Immigration policy will be a significant focus for the incoming
Trump administration and the higher education community alike. Campaign
rhetoric and early policy signals indicate that immigration enforcement will be
high on the new administration’s agenda, with potential actions that could
directly affect international students, faculty, and staff, as well as
undocumented individuals and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
recipients in our campus communities.
ACE has prepared a new issue
brief offering information and insights to help campuses navigate what
may be a rapidly shifting landscape. It draws lessons from the early days of
the first Trump administration, when executive actions on immigration came
swiftly and sometimes unexpectedly, causing confusion and uncertainty for those
directly affected.
As the issue brief outlines, immigration issues in higher
education extend well beyond enforcement measures. Our international
populations—documented, discretionary, and undocumented—may face challenges
with everything from visa applications and work authorizations to international
travel. For DACA recipients and other Dreamers, the coming months may determine
whether they can continue their education and employment without disruption.
This is a time of great uncertainty, and ACE remains alert
and prepared to help colleges and universities support all members of their
campus communities and the nation as a whole. History shows that even
well-prepared institutions were sometimes caught off guard by unexpected policy
changes in 2017 and the ensuing years. While it is impossible to predict
exactly what lies ahead, proactive measures and a deep understanding of the
evolving policy environment will allow us to be as responsive as possible.
ACE will continue to monitor developments
closely and stand as a resource and an advocate for the values we all share and
the policies that will best serve our students and institutions—ensuring that
our campuses remain welcoming, inclusive, and supportive of every student,
scholar, and staff member who calls them home.