The Office of Global Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst posted on Instagram on Nov. 15, recommending international students return to the U.S. after the winter break but before Trump’s inauguration. The office warned that the incoming administration might impose travel bans or restrictions for international citizens as early as its first day in power.
“The Office of Global Affairs recommends that our UMass Amherst international community, including all international students, scholars, faculty and staff under UMass immigration sponsorship, strongly consider returning to the U.S. prior to the presidential inauguration day of Jan. 20, 2025 if they are planning on traveling internationally during the winter holiday break,” the post read.
The advisory clarified that it was not a university mandate or based on any current U.S. government policy. Instead, it was issued as a precaution, citing past travel bans during Trump’s first administration in 2016. The office “is making this advisory out of an abundance of caution to hopefully prevent any possible travel disruption to members of our international community,” it stated.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s guidance followed a similar statement from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Nov. 12.
David C. Elwell, Associate Dean and Director of MIT’s International Students Office cautioned that executive orders from the new administration could affect travel and visa processes, as well as cause delays at embassies and consulates due to staffing issues.
“We know this is a time of uncertainty but also this is common after any election. We have experience with these transitions,” he said.
Elwell advised international students to avoid relying on rumors, social media, or unverified news about potential policy changes and to consult official sources for updates.
At Yale University, the Office of International Students and Scholars organized a seminar on Nov. 20 to address concerns about immigration policy under the new administration.
Ozan Say, the office’s director, assured students and scholars of Yale’s ongoing support. “As we have done under any administration before, we will always support our international community and ensure Yale remains a welcoming place for international students and scholars,” he said.
Stephen Robinson, director of Champlain College’s Dublin campus, told The Pie News in a Nov. 6 report that there is the worry that, a Republican administration could impose more regulations on state-funded U.S. institutions, potentially affecting outbound students and international partnerships.
During Trump’s first term, several policies negatively impacted international students. In 2017, Trump introduced travel bans targeting nearly a dozen countries, including five predominantly Muslim nations, North Korea, and Venezuela. In 2020, he expanded these bans to limit immigrant visas from six additional countries with significant Muslim populations.
Trump also proposed measures to restrict visa issuance, prevent international students from staying in the U.S. if enrolled in online courses during the pandemic, and limit student visas for certain nationalities.
These actions, according to Maia Chankseliani, Associate Professor of Comparative and International Education at the University of Oxford, sent a message that the U.S. was not welcoming to international students.
“This perception likely dampened international student enrolment,” she told Times Higher Education in Nov. 15 reports.
Between 2017 and 2021, under the Trump’s administration, the U.S. saw a decline in international student enrollments. Data from the Institute of International Education (IIE)’s Open Doors reports shows a drop in total international students from 1,078,822 in the 2016/17 academic year to 1,075,496 in 2019/20. New enrollments saw an even sharper decline, from 300,743 in 2015/16 to 267,712 in 2019/20.
The situation changed swiftly after that.
The 2023-2024 academic year saw over 1.1 million international students from 200 countries and territories studying in the U.S., the highest figure ever recorded, according to the IIE. These students contributed approximately $50 billion to the U.S. economy. The number of new international student entrants reached over 298,000, marking a 6.6% increase from the previous year.
Vietnamese students made up 22,066 of this total, ranking as the sixth-largest international student community in the U.S.
As Trump prepares to take office again, his campaign has signaled plans to intensify immigration restrictions. Trump has pledged to launch the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, focusing on criminals while aiming to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. He also indicated plans to declare a national emergency and use military resources, including the National Guard, to enforce deportations—a move likely to face legal challenges.
While Trump has suggested supporting green cards for thoroughly vetted foreign students graduating from U.S. colleges, his broader immigration policies are expected to create challenges for international students navigating education and residency in the U.S.
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