Colleges warn international students against spring break travel

Colleges and universities in the U.S. are advising international students to stay in the country during spring break. This comes amid ongoing threats from the Trump administration, which has proposed travel bans affecting many countries. Schools are worried that students who leave might face difficulties returning. Administrators at New York University (NYU) recently warned students and faculty against "non-essential travel" abroad. They suggested that students who feel anxious about traveling right now should consider remaining in the U.S. Brown University issued similar advice, acknowledging the uncertainty and anxiety many students feel due to reports of deportations. Schools like Columbia University and Cornell University have also shared warnings on their websites. Recent deportation cases have raised alarms. For instance, Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after organizing protests. Although a judge ordered his release, Trump suggested this is just the beginning of many such actions. A physician from Brown lost her visa upon returning from Lebanon, while a French scientist was denied entry over critical messages about Trump found on his phone. This is not the first time universities have urged students to avoid travel. Last year, ahead of Trump's inauguration, schools warned international students to return to the U.S. to avoid potential immigration issues.