Before the start of the new academic year in US universities, there has been deep uncertainty and anxiety among international students. After President Donald Trump returned to power, the rigorous steps that his administration took in the immigration and higher education policy, not just the policy environment – killed thousands of students’ dreams, future and higher education aspirations.
“It is my priority to leave the United States after the degree is over,” said Andre Fa’ao, a 27 -year -old University of Yale, from Ouckland, New Zealand. “The policy may change suddenly, and then I will see that Yale is involved in the conflict with the administration and my right to stay has become part of political deception.”
“I am hopeful that I can enter the United States without any problems,” he added. But what will happen if you are mentally preparing – if for some reason I take me in secondary screening (second phase) or seized for some reason. I’m not alone, many are thinking of this. ‘
“I am free from legal complications, but I’m afraid,” said a college student from Singapore. Avoid protest, always keep with the papers. But it seems that one day I will be detained. ‘
Similarly, an former European student, who was studying in the Harvard School of Public Health, said he was feeling terrified despite being in the United States for five years and having a valid visa.
The decision of the Trump administration has already had a huge impact for international students. Various steps have been taken, including delays in the visa process, the cancellation of the legal status of several hundred students and subsequent reinstatement, social media verification of visa applicants, new travel ban, research funding, and arrest of students involved in the Palestinian movement. At the same time, plans to cancel the Chinese student’s visa ‘offensively’ have been announced.
At one point, the administration wanted to prevent the admission of Harvard international students, which began a legal battle. Harvard says it was the political revenge of the White House.
There were more than 1 million international students in the United States in the 2021-20 academic year, which is 5 percent of the total students. However, in May 2021, a survey found that the U.S. study in the United States has dropped to the lowest later.
According to an analysis of the International Education Organization for Nafsa, the number of new international students may decrease by 5-7 percent this year, thus reduce the overall admission rate by 5 percent.
This reduction blamed the ban on travel, disruption of visa interviews and processes, shortage of visa appointments and new visa verification process.
The decline in international students can cause financial crisis for many universities in the United States. These students usually pay two to three times more tuition fees than domestic students, and they contribute about $ 1 billion to the US economy every year.
Especially the impact on Iranian students has the highest impact. Many have lost the opportunity to move to the United States as a new travel ban on Iranian citizens.
The 25 -year -old Iranian Romina is admitted to the PhD program at Columbia University, but has not been able to join the visa complications. “I was forced to go to a country outside Iran to interview a very difficult visa,” he said. Now I see the only one I can’t come. ‘
Meanwhile, 28 -year -old Iranian Mahia said he had received a full -scholarship at Ohio State University and had to cancel the flight, home after receiving a visa e -mail. Then came the news of the ban.
“When all my classmates are about to start their academic journey in New York City and Colombia, I can’t just do so because of Iranian – it’s very disappointing.”
5 -year -old Donia Movahedi Naghani did not get a visa even though Pardu University in the United States of India got a PhD opportunity. “My dream is broken,” he said. Now he is admitted to a Canadian university.
Many other Iranian students said they had postponed their admission, hoping that the situation would improve in the future. Many Iranian students have referred to themselves as ‘innocent’.
One student said, “We want just the opportunity to reach our goals, to judge with our possibilities, not by nationality.”
References: The Guardian
