As the United States prepares for Donald Trump to assume office as the 47th President in January, Indian students and professionals studying and working in the US are under threat. Several top US universities have issued travel advisories, urging international students to return to the country ahead of the swearing-in amid fears of possible travel restrictions, news agency PTI reported.
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President-elect Trump, who was sworn in on Jan. 20, has announced plans to impose sweeping executive orders targeting immigration and economic policies on his first day in office. This has rekindled concerns similar to the disorders that occurred during his first term in office in 2017, when an immediate travel ban was imposed on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.
The University of Massachusetts, Amherst issued a detailed advisory urging its international students and staff to consider returning before January 20. the university said “Given that a new presidential administration may implement policies on its first day taking office and based on previous experience with travel restrictions in 2017, this advice is given with an abundance of caution.
The Wesleyan Argus, Wesleyan University’s college newspaper, reported that the university’s Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) had issued similar guidance to its students. An email from the office reportedly read: “The safest way to avoid difficulty re-entering the country is to remain physically present in the US on January 19 and in the days following.”
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Associate Dean David Elwell cautioned international students to carefully assess their travel plans amid the unpredictability of the infection, potential delays in visa processing and staying out of the US if the new policies are implemented. Warned of the associated risks.
“With every election, there may be changes in policies, regulations, and legislation that impact higher education as well as matters of immigration and visa status,” he wrote in a recent post. These warnings particularly resonate with Indian students, many of whom remember the disruptions caused by Trump’s 2017 executive order. That ban sparked protests, affecting thousands of students and professionals, and raising questions about the inclusiveness of US immigration policies.
Universities are taking proactive steps to protect their international students. Yale University’s Office of International Students and Scholars held a webinar earlier this month to address students’ fears about potential immigration policy changes. Other institutions are also preparing to challenge any disruptive policies implemented by the Trump administration.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued a formal advisory but has acknowledged the situation, urging Indian citizens in the US to stay updated on travel rules. The US remains a top destination for Indian students pursuing higher education, with India overtaking China to become the leading origin destination for international students in 2023/2024. According to the Open Doors 2024 report on international educational exchange, 331,602 Indian students enrolled in US institutions, showing a significant increase of 23 percent over the previous year. This demographic has now become an important part of the American educational ecosystem.
