Several U.S. universities are advising international students and staff to return to campus before President-elect Trump’s inauguration due to uncertainty about potential policy changes. There are about 408,000 undocumented students in U.S. colleges, and even those with legal status face concerns about what might happen after Trump takes office.

Trump has said he plans to take action on illegal immigration on his first day as president, including using the military for mass deportations. He has also tried to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in the past. It is expected that he will make changes to immigration policy quickly once he is in office.

The recommendation for students and professors on visas to return to campus before the inauguration is based on concerns about possible travel bans. In his previous term, President Trump imposed travel restrictions that could affect international students and staff. To be cautious, several universities are advising individuals to return before the inauguration.

The uncertainty around travel bans is also a factor in this advice. During his first term, Trump restricted travel to the U.S. from several countries, including some Muslim-majority nations, Venezuela, and North Korea. While it’s unclear whether he will impose similar restrictions again, universities are recommending that international students and staff return to the U.S. before the inauguration just to be safe.

If you have questions about a student visa or any other U.S. immigration-related issue, contact us. During these uncertain times, we commit to always giving our clients expert advice for their particular situations. We vow to continue to guide our clients through their immigration journey based on the laws in effect for that given day. Taking proactive measures is always helpful, but perhaps now even more so.