The University of Massachusetts Amherst is advising all students and staff who are traveling internationally over the winter break to plan to return to the United States before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025. The Office of Global Affairs posted a message on the university website urging all international students, scholars, faculty, and staff under UMass immigration sponsorship to consider adjusting their travel plans if necessary. While this recommendation is not a requirement or mandate and is not based on any current governmental policy, the school is taking a cautious approach based on travel bans enacted during the first Trump administration.
The university emphasized that they cannot speculate on what a potential travel ban may look like, but noted that the new president could enact new policies on his first day in office. Following Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, a travel ban from several majority-Muslim countries was put into effect, causing widespread disruption and criticism.
UMass Amherst is offering support to undergraduate international students living on campus, allowing them to move back in early if needed to accommodate changing travel plans. Those in need of accommodation should contact the Residential Life Assignments Office. The university is aiming to prevent any possible travel disruptions for members of the international community during this uncertain period.
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