Schools caution international students: Get back to campus before Trump's inauguration
A handful of U.S. colleges and universities have been cautioning their international student bodies to return to campus early to avoid any travel delays.
As she prepared to leave for winter vacation, Tracey Pauline Albert, a master’s student at Columbia University originally from India, took no chances with her return plans. Her flight back to the U.S. was carefully scheduled to land well before Jan. 20.
Columbia is one of a handful of U.S. colleges and universities that have been cautioning their international student bodies to return to campus early to avoid any travel delays. Some schools are specifically advising students to arrive before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
The University of Southern California, Cornell University, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are among the schools that have advised concerned students to return to campus early.
“There is a palpable sense of anxiety among internationals regarding the ambiguity surrounding immigration policies,” Albert, who is studying for a Master of Public Administration, told NBC News via email. “Small adjustments, like ensuring one is back in the U.S. before key dates such as January 20th, are manageable. However, the question of what comes after remains.”
Tracey Pauline Albert altered her flight to come back to school early out of caution. Courtesy Tracey Pauline AlbertFor students like Albert, who carefully navigate the complexities of living and studying in the U.S., the looming uncertainty of Trump’s second term has reignited fears of travel bans and stricter immigration rules.
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