President Trump’s immigration order is affecting international students from countries around the world. Nearly a million international students attend American universities, with numbers continuing to rise. These students contribute to the U.S. economy, and universities across the nation are speaking out against the ban.
Students From Iran Are Most Affected
Nearly 16,000 students were prohibited from entering or re-entering the U.S. in January. The countries affected were:
- Iran
- Iraq
- Libya
- Syria
- Yemen
- Sudan
Over 11,000 of the students were from Iran. The immigration ban once again challenges the already fragile relationship between Iran and the U.S. Immigrant students from these countries should speak to an immigration lawyer in Chicago before attempting to travel.
Financial Costs to Universities Because of Travel Ban
U.S. schools are expected to lose around $500 million because of the travel ban, assuming an average tuition of $33,500 for each of the 16,000 students turned away. In addition, international students contribute over $30 billion to the U.S. economy by purchasing housing, food, utilities, clothing, etc.
Many research universities are panicking because foreign workers are fueling the growth in STEM sectors (science, technology, engineering, and math). International students are increasingly specializing in STEM areas, and when these students are prohibited from studying and working, research will suffer. An immigration lawyer in Chicago can answer questions for students who face uncertainty regarding status.
Universities Are Fighting Back in Support of Students
Universities have united against the Trump administration, releasing statements that reject the blanket ban on immigration solely because of geography. Columbia University, the University of Notre Dame, and Wesleyan are among the institutions that have recently published statements in support of international students. The University of Michigan announced that the school would not share the immigration status of its students with the government. Students who have questions about the travel ban should contact an immigration lawyer in Chicago before leaving the United States.
Awkward Cultural Moments Nothing New for Trump
In November of 2016, Trump made comments to Steve Bannon about making sure that international students would be able to study in the U.S. Bannon’s answer was not promising for international students, as he remarked that most of the CEOs in Silicon Valley were from South Asia or Asia.
In 2015, Harvard student Joseph Choe asked Trump a question about South Korea. Trump interrupted the question and asked if Choe was from South Korea. Choe replied that he was born in Texas. The audience laughed, and Choe’s question remained unanswered.
https://psmag.com/news/trumps-immigration-order-is-a-major-blow-to-american-universities
https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/10/15/448718726/south-korea-trumps-where-are-you-from-moment
