North News

Chandigarh, November 30

US universities are urging international students and staff to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, citing concerns over his plans for mass deportations and potential immigration policy changes.

In emails to students, universities have highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the Republican leader’s proposals, which include the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and possible use of the military to enforce removals, the news outlet BBC reported.  All international students are worried right now said  Professor Chloe East of the University of Colorado Denver, the news outlet said.

The concerns come as over half of all international students in the US hail from India and China, according to the US Department of State and the Institute of International Education. For the first time since 2009, India has overtaken China as the largest source of international students, with 331,602 enrolled in the 2023/24 academic year, a 23% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, Chinese enrollments fell by 4% to 277,398, according to the news outlet  Business Standard.

The uncertainty has been exacerbated by Trump’s swift and controversial cabinet appointments and Republican victories in Congress, raising fears about the future of visa approvals and immigration policies, according to the news outlet Yale News.

More than 400,000 undocumented students enrolled in U.S. higher education are particularly vulnerable, as Trump’s campaign rhetoric has amplified anxieties among immigrant communities. Universities are advising international students to take proactive steps to avoid potential disruptions to their education and legal status, the news outlet said.