Trump’s executive orders spark concern among university international students

For many international students at the University of Maryland, the recent policy changes introduced by the Trump administration have been more than just headlines—they have created real anxiety about their futures. 

Whether it’s concerns over visa restrictions, job prospects or simply the ability to stay in the United States, students feel the weight of these new regulations in their everyday lives. These fears have only grown as new executive orders and policy shifts continue to reshape immigration rules. 

Executive orders such as the ‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats’, on January 20 that tightened foreign admission into the U.S.  

Within 60 days the order worked to “evaluate all visa programs to ensure that they are not used by foreign nation-states or other hostile actors to harm the security, economic, political, cultural, or other national interests of the United States,” according to the official white house website.

President Darryl Pines spoke at the University’s Senate meeting on March 6 acknowledging the uncertainty international students face at this moment.

“It is clear that the situation in Washington, D.C., represents an evolving and significant threat to higher education, with a range of actions negatively affecting and impacting the operation of universities,” Pines said.

Some students are facing uncertainty about whether they can complete their education as planned, secure employment after graduation, or their ability to travel back and forth from their home country.

“I am more worried about how easily the border will let international students enter the states,” Jenessa Wolfe, a sophomore kinesiology major, said, reflecting on how the uncertainty has affected her personally.

Some international students are genuinely afraid of just telling others that they’re not from the U.S.

“Even though I have an F-1 visa allowing me the right to be in this country, many U.S. citizens elected Trump,” Wolfe said. ”It is concerning for me to mention that I am Canadian to strangers because I don’t know who will accept me being here.”

The university is home to a diverse international student body, with over 5,000 students from around the world. Some of them rely on Optional Practical Training and other visa programs to gain work experience after graduation—opportunities that now feel less certain.

“I don’t really know what I am going to do after graduation,” shared Lysandre Chaabi, a foreign exchange junior and journalism major from France. “I am not sure about staying in the U.S. anymore because I am worried about the future of the country with Trump.”

“The university provides adequate support or information that might affect me even if they never really provided me any information regarding me as an international student,” said Chaabi, as he hopes for a more proactive approach from the university to ensure that international students receive the support they need to succeed both academically and personally.

Pines ensured that the university will be working with community members and higher education groups to try and stay ahead of these new policies. 

University communications officials did not directly respond to requests for comments, instead deferring to the website for international students and scholars.

“When considering travel outside of the U.S., keep in mind that entry requirements may change unexpectedly. If you cannot afford interruptions to your studies, research, employment, or teaching due to an extended stay abroad, you should carefully weigh the necessity of traveling outside the U.S.,” the site reads.