“U.S. Universities Urge International Students to Return Before Trump Takes Office: ‘Act Now to Avoid Potential Risks’”

As Donald Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, universities across the United States are urging international students to return to the country before his inauguration, warning of potential visa complications and heightened restrictions. These warnings come amid concerns that the new administration might revive restrictive immigration policies, such as those implemented during Trump’s first term.

The University of California-Berkeley highlighted the uncertainty, referencing the travel ban imposed during Trump’s earlier presidency, which disrupted the plans of many students. “Whether such policies will be implemented again and/or blocked by the courts or via other means is unclear. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending a return to the United States prior to January 20,” the university said in a statement on its international student website.

Cornell University’s Office of Global Learning issued a similar caution, warning that a new travel ban “is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration.” The office pointed out that the ban could target several countries impacted during Trump’s first term, including Nigeria, Sudan, Myanmar, and others. “For students from these countries, the safest option is to return to the U.S. before the term begins on January 21,” the statement read.

Columbia University also urged vigilance, with spokeswoman Samantha Slater noting that the institution is “gathering relevant information on the incoming administration” while advising students to avoid potential delays by returning to campus before the semester starts.

Concerns stem from Trump’s first term in office, during which he implemented a widely criticized “Muslim ban,” blocking citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. In the wake of recent protests surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict, Trump further vowed to revoke the visas of individuals he labeled as “radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners.”

One international student from Nigeria expressed unease about the uncertainty ahead. “We’ve seen what happened during his first term, and it’s hard not to feel anxious. Returning before the inauguration seems like the safest move,” the student said.

While Trump has occasionally expressed support for legal immigration—suggesting in a June interview that international students should receive green cards upon graduation—the growing anti-immigrant rhetoric within the Republican Party has left many feeling uneasy.

As January 20 approaches, universities are emphasizing the importance of early re-entry to avoid unexpected barriers.