International students and faculty are grappling with an uncertain future as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office on Monday, Jan. 20, citing fears of a revived travel ban or potential changes to visa policies
Over a dozen schools, including the University of Southern California, have advised their international students to return to campus prior to Inauguration Day to avoid travel complications. Since LMU commenced its spring semester on Monday, Jan. 13, most international students will be on campus before any policy changes are made. However, the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) still emphasized the need for international students to return to campus prior to Monday, Jan. 20.
In the fall, LMU hosted over 1,000 international students. Now, many are preparing for a potential travel ban to be implemented by the incoming Donald Trump administration.
“This year, we added a reminder that courses begin [Monday, Jan.] 13 and they are expected back by that date,” said Csilla Samay, Ed.D, assistant dean of international students and initiatives, in an email to the Loyolan. “We also referenced the upcoming change in the presidential administration, and while we did not know what, if anything, might change [on] day [one], it was in their best interest to be back in the [United States] before that date.”
The Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, an annual study of international scholarship funded in part by the U.S. Department of State, found that there are roughly 1.1 million international students studying in the United States currently. Out of this number, over 1,000 international students and scholars attended LMU in the fall, according to Samay. About 44,000 of all international students are from countries that were included in travel bans implemented by Trump during his first term.
While running for president in 2015, Trump called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what’s going on,” referencing the alleged tension towards Americans by parts of the Muslim population. Once in office, he signed an executive order barring travel from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It was eventually blocked in federal court, but the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a revised version in June 2017.
The travel ban provoked a significant response in Los Angeles soon after it was implemented. At Los Angeles International Airport, protesters blocked traffic and immigration attorneys offered legal advice to detained travelers inside terminals.
President Joe Biden rescinded the ban on Jan. 20, 2021. However, during a Sept. 19, 2024 campaign speech at the Israeli American Council National Summit, Trump promised to revive it and also stated he would add refugees from Gaza to the list of banned populations.
With Inauguration Day less than a week away, Trump has reportedly prepared hundreds of executive orders. LMU administration is readying itself for immigration policy changes to come as soon as Monday, Jan. 20.
“There is considerable discussion as [Inauguration Day] nears about how we best support our students who are coming into the United States, and [the Office of National and International Fellowships] is promoting fellowships to go abroad,” said Ramos. “Will our students even want to be going abroad with the kind of uncertainty that Trump introduces on the global stage?”
LMU was impacted by the 2017 travel ban, with University administration at the time recommending that international students avoid traveling outside the country while it remained in effect.
“OISS was in regular communication with impacted students and worked with our government field representatives, immigration attorneys, our professional association and others to make sure we were providing students with the most sound advice,” stated Samay, reflecting on the atmosphere brought by the 2017 travel ban. “That experience led to us being proactive in our communication to students to avoid any possible delays.”
Despite these efforts, confusion and fear still ran rampant throughout campus in the days following the imposition of the 2017 travel ban.
“I saw a lot of concern amongst those students who were affected, for their family and friends and for the uncertainty of the situation,” said Jennifer Ramos, Ph.D., professor of political science and international relations and director of global learning at the Office of International Programs and Partnerships. “[This involved] not knowing when they could go home, and if they did go home, [wondering] would they be able to get back in.”
A travel ban could not only affect the ability of international students to matriculate in U.S. universities, but also the ability of international scholars to teach in the U.S.
Speculation about possible executive actions that Trump may take began soon after the 2024 election, with international students wondering about policy changes that could impact themselves or their loved ones.
“Some people were rumoring that there were [going to] be immediate changes or something about international students and the visas,” said Tony Rendon, a freshman marketing major and international student.
Rendon, a citizen of the United States and Mexico, would be unaffected by any travel bans. Still, he worries for his friends who are facing a much harsher reality.
“It’s worrying and sad because I do have a lot of friends who have big dreams and aspirations, and college in the U.S. would definitely help them out a lot,” said Rendon. “I want the best for them … if that is inhibited by this change, that would really sadden me.”
As in 2017, international LMU faculty scholars may also be impacted by travel restrictions that limit their ability to travel to their home countries or academic engagements outside the United States.
“I think [the international scholar experience] may parallel the international student experience. We may see a decline, simply because they can’t get the right paperwork,” said Ramos. “I mean, we know already that it’s hard for a lot of students to line up all the visas and the different kinds of paperwork that they need to get in without … a travel ban. I would imagine that it could affect international scholars similarly.”
Ramos suggests that these restrictions may force universities to adopt new teaching models, naming Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) as a prominent example.
“No matter what is happening politically, we can still unite across borders virtually. We have a couple of professors who are going to be virtually connecting with other professors in their classes to collaborate on projects during the semester,” said Ramos. “Perhaps we’ll see a rise in that kind of pedagogical tool to connect students when people are feeling uneasy, either about traveling or the host country.”
Although Trump has made few public statements about reviving and expanding the 2017 travel ban, few doubt that Trump will substantially change his immigration policy after he takes office.
“I believe he will follow through,” said Ramos. “I believe that we have evidence to show that he has a certain perspective, and he has thought about who to choose to support his perspective within his administration … I don’t have evidence to the contrary yet.”
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