Though you may not have had a vote, this past election was a monumental crossroads for the future of international education in the United States. The last four years under the leadership of Donald Trump have put a strain on foreign relations in the US, with international students being a large target for restrictions as the last administration suppressed immigration.
The US has long been known as a leading country for foreign students to study abroad, with a wide selection of world-class universities that focus on maintaining diverse student populations. Despite this, the 2019/20 school year marked the first in over a decade that saw a decrease in international student enrollments, according to the 2020 Open Doors Report by the IIE. There are many factors that go into this statistic, but it is impossible to deny the negative impact the Trump administration has had on international students’ view of the US.
For those who may not have kept up with the election or don’t understand much about U.S. politics, we know that it may be difficult to comprehend just exactly what the election of Joe Biden means for the future of international students. Luckily, Biden has already made it clear that immigration and foreign relations will be one of his top priorities in office. After years of seemingly no good news for international students, many are already seeing this open support and clear vision as a breath of fresh air.
There’s a lot at stake when Biden finally takes over after his inauguration on January 20th. With this, ISO wanted to share more information on what you can expect from the Biden administration and why this looks to be a positive thing for international students moving forward.
What led to this moment?
To truly understand what changes to expect in the coming years, we must first look at how the past four years have shifted the feelings around America’s reputation as the go-to destination for those studying abroad.
It was clear during Trump’s 2016 campaign that he would be tough on immigration during his time in office. The tone was set early, as within the first couple weeks of his term he banned foreign nationals from several Muslim countries from coming to the US and rescinded the DACA program, which protected undocumented immigrant children from being deported. The next four years saw even more negativity, with the most infamous being the “Zero-Tolerance Policy”, which separated children of illegal immigrants from their families while they were prosecuted.
The pandemic created new calls for restrictions and international students/workers faced several setbacks during this time. Here are some ways international students have been negatively affected by the Trump administration:
- In June, Trump froze the issuance of H1B, J1, and L1 visas, which kept new workers and research scholars from entering the US.
- There was also a proposed rule that would have required F1 students who studied online to return to their home country that was redacted after pushback from top universities.
- The above proposal was edited to limit the length that an F1 student can study in the US to four years before they need to re-apply for their visa. This is currently in legislation and may be passed in the coming months.
- In September, thousands of Chinese students/researchers had their visas revoked by Trump, claiming it was a national security measure to protect against espionage.
- There is also a proposed rule to change the H1B visa lottery to prioritize visa approvals for the workers who make a larger salary. This may help in increasing wages for H1B holders but also puts those with less experience at a disadvantage.
Looking forward
With his track record, it’s clear to see why students shared such fear during Trump’s time in office. There will be a lot that Joe Biden needs to do to reclaim the trust of international students and find ways to make them feel welcome again. Luckily, he has already shown his support for international students and acknowledged the impact they have on the US.
When looking at what to expect when Biden takes over, it should be noted that drastic changes will probably not be made for a while. There are many pressing issues that will need attention immediately. However, Biden has said that he will reinstate DACA and rescind the “Muslim Ban” within his first 100 days in office. This will open many new opportunities for immigrants coming to the US, especially for students from these Muslim countries.
Though Biden has not explicitly stated much about what he will do about the restrictions affecting international students, it is safe to assume he will work to make sure they are at least softened. The most helpful hint for international students comes from his immigration plan web link, which states “foreign graduates of a U.S. doctoral program should be given a green card with their degree and that losing these highly trained workers to foreign economies is a disservice to our own economic competitiveness.”
Though not all students will wind up in a U.S. doctoral program, this shows the recognition and respect the president-elect has for international students. Biden recognizes the economic impact that having a diverse and skilled workforce has and wants to ensure America continues the symbiotic relationship the country has with its foreign students.
Another promising sign comes from the fact Biden has high ranking people around him with special connections to immigration. Kamala Harris, Biden’s vice president, is the daughter of two international students and was vocal in her denunciation of the proposed F1 visa deportation for online students in July.
Biden also recently announced Alejandro Mayorkas as the new lead of the Department of Homeland Security. Mayorkas is the former director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration service and is the son of Jewish Cuban refugees. He has shown his support for immigration with his influence in the initial passing of DACA under the Obama administration. His background and past relationship with Biden should lead to a smooth time in passing legislation around visa reform.
Though things are looking positive, Trump remains the president until inauguration day and can still pass legislation. In addition, the H1B/J1/L1 visa restrictions will stay in effect until the end of 2020, which will hurt many whose visas are expiring before the end of the year. The F1 visa four-year limit is also currently in the process of going through legislation in the Department of Homeland Security. This can go into effect at any time and will be significantly more difficult to repeal in the future if it does.
As an organization created by international students, we understand the frustration the last four years have brought. With the pandemic and the actions of the government, there is a long road to go before the US again feels like the place that fully welcomed the immigrants that help make the country great. However, the election of Biden is a good sign of positive future trends. We hope you make the most of your academic journey in the meantime and continue to stay optimistic.
