Several American universities have issued travel advisories for their international students and staff, urging them to return to the US before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, amid concerns over potential travel bans that may be enacted by his administration.

Trump is set to take office on January 20 and has already announced plans to sign multiple executive orders on economic and immigration issues during his first day in office. This has raised concerns among universities and international students about the possibility of travel disruptions, as many remember the impact of similar measures during his first term.

Data from the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Institute of International Education shows that India and China account for over half of all international students in the United States. For the first time since 2009, India has overtaken China as the leading country of origin, with 331,602 international students in the 2023/2024 academic year, a 23% increase from the previous year. China remains the second-largest source of international students, despite a slight decline.

David Elwell, Associate Dean and Director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) International Students Office, noted that presidential transitions often lead to changes in immigration policies and visa regulations. Elwell advised students to reconsider their travel plans for the upcoming winter break, as new executive orders under Trump could affect travel and visa processing.

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, issued a similar advisory to its international community, urging students, scholars, faculty, and staff to return to the US before the inauguration if they plan to travel abroad during the winter holiday. While not a mandate, the university’s Office of Global Affairs issued the warning out of caution, recalling the disruptions caused by the travel bans of the first Trump administration in 2017.

The Wesleyan Argus, the college newspaper of Wesleyan University, reported that the university is closely monitoring potential changes to immigration policy and advising international students to be in the US by January 19, 2025, to avoid potential issues with re-entry.

In 2017, shortly after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for 90 days. This order caused widespread disruptions and protests, and raised concerns about the impact of similar policies in the future.

As the new administration prepares to take office, international students are being urged to act quickly and carefully plan their travel to avoid possible disruptions to their studies and immigration status.

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