Cornell University is encouraging international students and staff to return early from winter break in anticipation of President-Elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
According to Cornell’s guidance, “it is a good idea” for students from the 12 countries targeted in Trump’s previous travel ban, such as Iran and Yemen, to return to the United States before the university’s semester starts on Jan. 21. Countries like China or India could also be added to the list, it says.
Trump will be inaugurated Jan. 20.
Cornell is among a handful of colleges that have issued similar guidance ahead of Trump’s second presidency. The president-elect has pledged to enact a travel ban and revoke student visas from “radical anti-American and antisemitic foreigners.”
International college students are typically issued visas that allow them to study in the United States, but they must leave within 60 days after their program ends.
As of fall 2023, more than 6,000 international students attended Cornell. At that time, there was at least one student from almost every country on the advisory list.
Students going through customs in the United States may need to provide more evidence of their connection to Cornell, the university’s guidance says, and should bring additional paperwork proving their reason for travel, such as a transcript or funding documents.
The guidance also encourages undocumented students and those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy to contact the university’s student support office with questions.
Early deportations will likely focus on people with final orders of deportation, it adds. Threats of deportation will likely be challenged in courts and take longer than promised, it says.
Maggie Hicks covers education, including the Syracuse City School District and Syracuse University. She can be reached at mhicks@syracuse.com or follow her on X @maggie_hickss.