New York, December 23, 2024 – President-elect Donald Trump is set to officially take office on January 20th next year. Several universities in New York, including Cornell University and the University of Rochester, have recently issued announcements to international students advising them to return to campus before Trump’s inauguration to avoid potential visa entry issues due to possible policy changes.
The spring semester at many New York state universities, including Cornell University and the University of Rochester, is scheduled to commence in the days following Trump’s inauguration. Concerned about the new government policies and their implications, these institutions have cautioned students about the consequences of delayed return to the United States.
The Global Learning Office at Cornell University stated in a notification that travel restrictions might immediately be put into effect after Trump’s inauguration, likely targeting the countries mentioned in the initial policies of the Trump administration. They recommended that international students and faculty from these countries return to the U.S. before the start of the semester.
Cornell University’s list includes 13 countries previously affected by travel bans, with a prediction that other countries such as China and India may be added to the list. According to the university’s data, international students from 131 countries make up 26% of Cornell’s total student population.
It is currently unclear how the Trump administration will implement travel restrictions upon taking office; however, during the campaign period, Trump had hinted at reinstating travel bans and possibly expanding them to more countries.
Last year, following on-campus demonstrations supporting Palestine, Trump suggested revoking visas of protesting students, labelling them as “radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners”. According to the latest data released by New York University on December 4th, over 27,000 international students were enrolled last year.
Columbia University’s spring semester is set to begin the day after Trump’s inauguration. The New York Daily News reported that two senior university officials recently sent out annual emails advising international travelers to return to campus before the semester starts to avoid potential travel delays. Located in Manhattan, New York City, Columbia University boasts over 23,200 international students from 162 countries.
As per the Columbia Daily Spectator, Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, mentioned the establishment of at least 13 task forces to address potential “challenges” posed by the Trump administration during a meeting with faculty and student representatives last week, one of which is dedicated to handling matters concerning international students.
Other New York institutions, such as certain campuses of the State University of New York (SUNY), are also encouraging international students to return early. The University at Buffalo, a SUNY campus, outlined on its official website the need for students to carefully plan their travels and allow ample time, especially if applying for a new U.S. entry visa, warning of potential delays due to staffing changes at U.S. embassies and consulates.
In the academic year 2023-2024, the University at Buffalo enrolled a total of 8,380 international students from 100 countries, predominantly from India and China.