US universities are advising international students and staff to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, amid growing concerns over his planned mass deportations.
Chloe East, a professor at the University of Colorado Denver, told the BBC that many international students are deeply worried. “All international students are worried right now,” she said, referencing Trump’s promise to enact the largest deportation operation in history. The incoming president has also suggested using the US military to assist in the operation.
There are more than 400,000 undocumented students currently enrolled in US higher education, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. Trump’s administration has hinted at constructing large holding facilities for undocumented immigrants slated for deportation. While his appointed border official, Tom Homan, has emphasized that violent criminals and national security threats will be prioritized for removal, concerns continue to mount in the higher education community.
“Students are incredibly overwhelmed and stressed out right now as a result of the uncertainty around immigration,” East said. “A lot of students have concerns about their visas and whether they’ll be allowed to continue their education.”
In November, the University of Massachusetts issued a travel advisory to its international students and faculty, advising them to “strongly consider” returning to campus before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The advisory referenced previous travel bans enacted during Trump’s first administration, particularly in 2016, which impacted nationals from several predominantly Muslim countries, as well as North Korea and Venezuela.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Wesleyan University have also issued similar advisories, urging students and staff to return to the US ahead of the inauguration. Yale University recently hosted a webinar to address concerns from international students, including those affected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects young undocumented migrants brought to the US as children. Trump has attempted to dismantle the program, heightening fears within the student community.
The uncertainty surrounding US immigration policies is particularly concerning for students from Asia, including China, with Professor East noting the rising anxiety about US-China relations under Trump’s administration.
Aoi Maeda, an international student from Japan at Earlham College in Indiana, expressed concerns about her future academic plans. “I am planning to graduate in May 2026, but now that the administration is going to be a little bit more dangerous, I’m less hopeful about things going well,” she said. Maeda added that while Trump claims to focus on removing illegal immigrants, his policies often change unexpectedly, further increasing uncertainty.
