International students at the University of Houston are encouraged to attend classes when they begin next week, despite worries about changing immigration laws under a new presidential administration.
The majority of Houston-area universities begin classes on January 13, one week before to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. The International Student and Scholar Services Office (ISSSO) of the University of Houston sent out a note advising students to make appropriate plans in order to prevent difficulties arising from travel or immigration issues.
According to a portion of the notification, being on time will help you fulfill reporting obligations, make sure you are ready to attend classes, and concentrate on your academic performance. Additionally, being in Houston at the beginning of the semester can assist you avoid any travel or immigration issues that might otherwise cause you problems.
More than 5,000 overseas students were enrolled at UH in 2024. It is frequently listed as one of the nation’s most diverse universities.
Trump, who will take office on January 20, declared during his campaign that he would deport large numbers of immigrants who are in the country illegally as part of his second term in office. He was president for the first time from 2016 to 20.
Students are advised by institutions such as the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to be on campus prior to the inauguration of the new administration and to stay away from travel within 60 miles of the U.S./Canada or U.S./Mexico border, where immigration checks are located.
While UTSA submitted their warning a few days prior to the election, UH sent its notice following Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election.
Being physically present before the new administration takes office is the safest method to prevent difficulties reentering the United States due to the impending change in government and the uncertainty surrounding prospective changes to immigration policy, according to UTSA’s notice. In the event of unforeseen travel delays that could cause your anticipated return to be delayed, we advise January 17.
The precautions were expected following the initial Trump administration travel restriction for mostly Muslim nations in 2017, which resulted in some visa holders being detained at airports, according to Avalyn Langemeier, a Houston-area lawyer who deals with international students.
She noted that people are attempting to stay clear of any potential misunderstanding, particularly if they come from China or any other nation that might not have cordial ties with the US.
According to Langemeier, F-1 visa holders must continue to be enrolled full-time. This implies that a student must enroll in a language training program or an accredited school or academic institution, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
She stated that they must continue to attend classes, maintain their course load, and fulfill their obligations under that F-1. Additionally, they must have documentation proving their legal status in the US. There can be a problem if an immigration official asks them for that documentation and they don’t have it.
Since international students are not required to have legal representation, policy changes could make things more difficult for them. Additionally, officials might not always have clear instructions regarding the most recent changes. According to Langemeier, if Senate Bill 4 is reinstated, immigration policy in Texas may become very complex. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) claims that the bill, which would permit any police officer to enforce immigration laws, was blocked by a lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice and many civil rights organizations. The measure is presently stalled while a lawsuit is pending and was in legal limbo last March.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
