Keywords
anti-immigration policies, federal policy, higher education experiences, international education, international graduate students
Abstract
This exploratory study investigates international graduate students’ experiences studying in the US during the years of the Trump Administration, its influence on their mental health, and how their experiences have been different since. We surveyed international graduate students at a large public research institution in the Southeastern US who started their degrees in the US between 2017 and 2020, using a mixed-methods approach. The findings reveal that students had a negative perception of Trump Administration policies and rhetoric and were most negatively affected by those relating to visa status during the pandemic, travel bans, and student work authorization (OPT, CPT). Students’ mental health suffered during the years of the Trump Administration yet improved after President Biden was elected, with students anticipating more positive outcomes to come. The findings of this study can inform policy and practice around international graduate student recruitment, institutional services, and mental health support.
Recommended Citation
Omotilewa, Odunayo O. and Kayla M. Johnson (University of Arizona)
(2025)
"The (in)effect of Trump-era anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric on international students: Perceptions of and experiences in US higher education,"
Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education: Vol. 17:
No.
4, Article 8.
DOI: 10.64899/557653ugefzt
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/jcihe/vol17/iss4/8
