International students fear new risks of studying in US under Trump

Post by: Omar Nasser

Photo : AP

In recent years, more students from other countries have started coming back to study in the United States after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a drop in numbers. This has been good for American universities because international students pay high tuition fees. But now, two months after Donald Trump became president again, many students and teachers are worried that things might change.

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Some students say they are scared of getting deported because of their political views. A Ph.D. student from South Asia, studying at the University of Rochester, said she is now afraid to talk about LGBTQ+ rights or even go near a protest. She also said she does not want to go home for summer break because she is worried she might not be allowed back into the US.

"You come to the US for an education, so you have to focus on your studies," the student said. "But it is hard to just ignore the news and not think about what’s happening."

Teachers and university leaders are afraid that this kind of fear will stop students from choosing to study in America. If the US government makes strict immigration rules, cuts funding for research, or starts controlling student activism, students may struggle to get visas, travel freely, or even speak their minds.

"It has a chilling effect," said Clay Harmon, head of an organization that helps bring international students to the US. "Even if no big rule has changed yet, the overall feeling is that the US is not welcoming. Some students feel they might be in danger if they come here."

Harmon said that during a recent visit to India, the country that sends the most students to US universities, he noticed that fewer Indian students are interested in studying in America. Some students are waiting to see if rules will change, while others have delayed their admission for 2025. News about immigration rules spreads fast online, and students from China, India, and other countries are asking for advice on social media about whether they should pick the US, UK, or European universities instead.

International students are very important for American colleges. Since fewer US students are enrolling in universities, colleges rely on students from other countries to fill seats and pay full tuition. In the 2023-2024 school year, there were about 1.1 million international students in the US. They contributed $43.8 billion to the economy and helped support over 378,000 jobs.

Foreign graduate students also play a big role in university research, said Fanta Aw, head of NAFSA, a group that supports international education. She said that although some international students have been arrested, like a Palestinian activist at Columbia University and a Georgetown University scholar, these cases are rare.

"We have students from all over the world in many universities," Aw said. "The news focuses on just a few cases, but most international students don’t face problems."

Different universities have responded to Trump’s policies in different ways. Northeastern University in Boston has created a webpage to update students on immigration policies and reassure them that they are welcome.

Bunker Hill Community College has paused short-term study abroad programs because they are worried about students facing travel restrictions. Columbia University’s journalism school has warned non-US citizens that they could be at risk of arrest or deportation.

Brown University has even advised its international students and staff not to travel for now. This warning came after a professor at Brown was deported to Lebanon, even though she had a US visa. Later, US officials said she was sent back because she admitted to supporting a Hezbollah leader.

As immigration rules tighten and fears grow, international students must now think carefully before choosing to study in the US. Many are asking: Is it still safe?

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