The University of Rochester encourages international students to return to campus ahead of Trump’s inauguration

Rochester, New York – As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on January 20, concerns regarding potential changes to immigration policies are prompting several U.S.
universities to encourage international students to arrive on campus beforehand. Several universities, including the University of Rochester and Cornell, are conveying this message.

UR leadership advises that students planning to travel abroad during the winter break should ensure their return to the U.S. by January 20. They stated, “We do not anticipate re-entry requirements to the U.S. to change before January 20, 2025, when the new administration takes office.”

The University of Rochester has announced that current undergraduate students can move into their dorm rooms on January 16, 2025. Meanwhile, new students, including those on exchange, leave of absence, and study abroad, will be permitted to move in on January 17, 2025.

Authorities recommended that international students examine these guidelines if they plan to travel and return.

Trump announced that he plans to implement a strict immigration policy on his first day in office. In his election campaign, Trump declared, “On day one, I will initiate the largest deportation program in American history,” emphasizing his intention to rely on local law enforcement and federal agencies to implement his strategies.

In the early days of his presidency, Trump signed an executive order aimed at restricting entry into the U.S. for individuals from predominantly Muslim nations for a period of 90 days, along with a 120-day suspension on all refugees.

Cornell has provided guidance to its international students, similar to that of UR, indicating that “a travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration.” The proposed ban is expected to encompass individuals from the nations that were previously targeted during the initial Trump administration: Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. There is potential for the inclusion of additional countries on this list, especially China and India. Students and scholars from abroad who are not part of these “areas of concern” are unlikely to face a travel ban or specific visa suspension.
Individuals who do not hold citizenship in these nations but are merely passing through on their way to the U.S. are expected to remain unaffected.

Cornell has indicated that a combination of staffing shortages and heightened background checks at U.S. consulates may lead to even longer visa processing times.