1996 International Olympic Committee
1996 International Olympic Committee
Surviving Trump’s America: How DACA and International Students Keep Going
Surviving Trump’s America: How DACA and International Students Keep Going
College is hard. Now imagine juggling classes, work and the constant fear that your legal status or even your ability to stay in the country could change overnight. For a junior biology major with a public health minor who wishes to remain anonymous, that is the daily reality. As an international student at Spelman, she navigates the pressures of academics alongside visa restrictions and the uncertainty of being far from home.
Policies enacted during the Trump administration reshaped the landscape for students like her, and the effects are still felt on campuses today. Yet despite the hurdles, students continue to adapt, persevere and succeed.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects eligible undocumented youth from deportation and allows them to work, faced repeated threats of termination during that administration. International students, meanwhile, dealt with travel bans, visa delays and limits on employment that disrupted study plans. Even with subsequent policy changes, the lingering uncertainty affects students’ confidence, academic planning and daily decisions. According to the Migration Policy Institute, nearly 640,000 DACA recipients lived in the United States in 2023, many enrolled in colleges or universities and navigating these ongoing challenges.
Enrollment and financial aid remain significant obstacles. International students often face sudden visa restrictions or delays that impact course registration.
“Some visas only let you enter the country once, which makes studying abroad nearly impossible. It can feel like being trapped. You want to explore and grow, but every decision, from traveling home to planning classes, feels like it could be upended overnight,” she said.
DACA students may be ineligible for state or federal aid, forcing them to find private funding or work while managing a full course load. Beyond logistics, there is a mental load. Constantly planning around potential policy changes, worrying about travel, or fearing loss of legal protections adds stress that can affect academic focus and well-being.
Opportunities that many students take for granted can also feel out of reach.
“Being ineligible for government-funded internships and fellowships limits the opportunities available to me, and housing is not guaranteed for international students at Spelman. It adds another layer of uncertainty to an already stressful college experience,” she said.
Despite these challenges, students are finding ways to thrive. Campus offices such as International Student Services and Financial Aid offer guidance to navigate complicated rules. Mentorship programs and student organizations focused on immigrant rights provide community, advocacy, and practical support. National advocacy groups also track policy shifts and share resources, helping students stay informed and proactive.
Motivation often comes from recognizing the unique opportunities college provides.
“Even with all these challenges, I stay motivated because Spelman is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It feels too good to pass up, so I focus on making the most of every moment here,” she said.
The experiences of DACA and international students show the ongoing impact of immigration policy on higher education. The obstacles are significant, but so is the resilience. Their determination is proof that students are not defined by the policies around them, but by their ability to rise above them.
Education should never be a privilege determined by politics. It should be a right. And as long as DACA and international students continue to fight for their place in the classroom, the responsibility falls on campuses and communities to stand with them and ensure that access to opportunity is not dictated by immigration status.
College is hard. Now imagine juggling classes, work and the constant fear that your legal status or even your ability to stay in the country could change overnight. For a junior biology major with a public health minor who wishes to remain anonymous, that is the daily reality. As an international student at Spelman, she navigates the pressures of academics alongside visa restrictions and the uncertainty of being far from home.
Policies enacted during the Trump administration reshaped the landscape for students like her, and the effects are still felt on campuses today. Yet despite the hurdles, students continue to adapt, persevere and succeed.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects eligible undocumented youth from deportation and allows them to work, faced repeated threats of termination during that administration. International students, meanwhile, dealt with travel bans, visa delays and limits on employment that disrupted study plans. Even with subsequent policy changes, the lingering uncertainty affects students’ confidence, academic planning and daily decisions. According to the Migration Policy Institute, nearly 640,000 DACA recipients lived in the United States in 2023, many enrolled in colleges or universities and navigating these ongoing challenges.
Enrollment and financial aid remain significant obstacles. International students often face sudden visa restrictions or delays that impact course registration.
“Some visas only let you enter the country once, which makes studying abroad nearly impossible. It can feel like being trapped. You want to explore and grow, but every decision, from traveling home to planning classes, feels like it could be upended overnight,” she said.
DACA students may be ineligible for state or federal aid, forcing them to find private funding or work while managing a full course load. Beyond logistics, there is a mental load. Constantly planning around potential policy changes, worrying about travel, or fearing loss of legal protections adds stress that can affect academic focus and well-being.
Opportunities that many students take for granted can also feel out of reach.
“Being ineligible for government-funded internships and fellowships limits the opportunities available to me, and housing is not guaranteed for international students at Spelman. It adds another layer of uncertainty to an already stressful college experience,” she said.
Despite these challenges, students are finding ways to thrive. Campus offices such as International Student Services and Financial Aid offer guidance to navigate complicated rules. Mentorship programs and student organizations focused on immigrant rights provide community, advocacy, and practical support. National advocacy groups also track policy shifts and share resources, helping students stay informed and proactive.
Motivation often comes from recognizing the unique opportunities college provides.
“Even with all these challenges, I stay motivated because Spelman is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It feels too good to pass up, so I focus on making the most of every moment here,” she said.
The experiences of DACA and international students show the ongoing impact of immigration policy on higher education. The obstacles are significant, but so is the resilience. Their determination is proof that students are not defined by the policies around them, but by their ability to rise above them.
Education should never be a privilege determined by politics. It should be a right. And as long as DACA and international students continue to fight for their place in the classroom, the responsibility falls on campuses and communities to stand with them and ensure that access to opportunity is not dictated by immigration status.