For International students, the administration’s latest measures created uncertainty. Alfonso Romero went from feeling safe on his campus to feeling anxious about leaving it for his Senior Year.
International Students make up around 1.2 million of the overall undergraduate student population in the U.S. For the election campaign during 2024, now-elected President Donald Trump, during an interview with All-In, expressed an idea of making international students who have completed their programs eligible for obtaining a Green-Card.
The clip went viral among the international student community and filled social media with videos that shared a sense of hope, even making some students feel more relaxed about how the upcoming government would treat them if it won.
Fast forward to May 2025, and the Trump administration clashes with Harvard University, attempting to block all international student visas and leaving upcoming and current students uncertain whether they could return to their alma mater under the new policy. Around the same time, the first reports of F-1 visas being overturned without warning began to surface on social media.
During this time, ICE sightings were reported on social circles and followed by the events that occurred in Minneapolis, which ended with Rene Good’s life. “It made me really anxious,” Alfonso shares. “I remember I told my mom they are gonna raid us or something”.
For Alfonso Romero, who graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biology from the University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York City, the current administration’s decision affected him not only through what was happening for International Students, but also through the situation with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). During his senior year, his school advised students to be safe during this period. Carrying their F-1 and SEVIS papers, having access to their passport, and being helpful if asked.
According to a survey made by the AAPI Equity Alliance, 90% of international students are fearful about their visa status, including risks of detention or deportation. 86% changed or restricted their social media presence due to fear of surveillance, and 81% experienced negative physical or mental health impacts
“It impacted me the way it did, because I was so close to graduating,” Romero says.
As Alfonso, many current students continue to face this uncertainty. He has returned to Nicaragua and is currently working as an assistant for the Medical faculty at a university.
Editor’s Note: The editor and writer of this note believe it’s essential to let the audience know that many people decline to give an interview because of the risks.
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