As the United States prepares for Donald Trump to take office as the 47th President in January, a shadow hangs over Indian students and professionals studying and working in the country. Amid concerns about possible travel restrictions, a number of prestigious American colleges have issued travel warnings, advising overseas students to return to the nation prior to the inauguration, according to news agency PTI.
On his first day in office, President-elect Trump, who will take the oath of office on January 20, has declared his intention to enact broad executive orders that would target economic and immigration policy. This has sparked worries of disruptions such to those that occurred during his first term in 2017, when citizens of seven countries with a large Muslim population were immediately prohibited from traveling.
The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, issued a detailed advisory urging its international students and staff to consider returning before January 20.
“Given that a new presidential administration can enact policies on their first day in office and based on previous experience with travel bans in 2017, this advisory is made out of an abundance of caution,” the college stated.
According to Wesleyan University’s undergraduate newspaper, The Wesleyan Argus, the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) has given its students identical instructions. According to an office email, “The safest way to avoid difficulty re-entering the country is to be physically present in the US on January 19 and the days thereafter.”
Universities are taking proactive steps to protect their international students. Yale University’s Office of International Students and Scholars hosted a webinar earlier this month to address student fears about possible immigration policy changes. Other institutions are also preparing to challenge any disruptive policies that may be enacted by the Trump administration.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue a formal advisory but has acknowledged the situation, urging Indian nationals in the US to remain updated on travel regulations.
The US remains a top destination for Indian students pursuing higher education, with India surpassing China in 2023/2024 to become the leading place of origin for international students. According to the Open Doors 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange, 331,602 Indian students were enrolled in American institutions, marking a significant 23 per cent increase from the previous year. This demographic now constitutes a critical part of the US academic ecosystem.
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Source: India Today
