Local Immigration Attorney Counsels International Students

On Thursday, the Office of Immigration Services hosted an informational session alongside local immigration attorney Dan Berger in an effort to address anxieties that many students on campus, especially international students, have expressed with President Donald Trump promising “mass deportations” and expanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) ability to detain migrants. The event, which was held in Keefe Campus Center, was part of a series that held its last session before the election last fall.

Trump’s election sparked many visa concerns among international students. Some were worried about their ability to re-enter the U.S. after returning home, while others believed applying for work visas after graduation would become harder.

During the information session, Berger assured students that there were no immediate concerns over the Trump administration’s changes. Berger shared that the most common concern he has heard is about ICE activity on campus, but he assured students that ICE presence on campus is highly unlikely. In the event that an encounter did occur, he provided guidance for students, urging them to carry paper copies of identification documents.  

Berger is more concerned with restrictions on international travel. If travel bans are placed, he advised international students to not take the risk of traveling. If students do plan on traveling home over breaks, Berger urged them to purchase flexible tickets in case a flight needed to be rescheduled. Key strategies, he said, include having a backup plan and checking in with himself or Hanna Bliss, director of immigration services, before solidifying plans. He also advised that international students approach deadlines for visas with extra caution.

Berger said that threats to already-issued student visas are unlikely unless the individual who received it is no longer eligible or a travel ban is enacted. Under the Biden Administration, visa guidance was bolstered to make the process less ambiguous, leading to higher approval rates, therefore less change is likely to be enacted. However, Berger said that the process for obtaining H-1Bs, work visas that must be sponsored by employers, may be delayed by the new administration which needs to be taken into consideration when applying for jobs. He also encouraged students to consider the H-1B lottery through a private employer, even if the job offer has not been solidified. Berger explained that this approach gives students the best chance with a 25% success rate.

Berger also emphasized the importance of networking when trying to find sponsors, encouraging students to apply for jobs early and take advantage of resources such as the Alumni Network. Berger told attendees that he would happily speak with employers on behalf of any international student anxious about finding a sponsorship.

Two students who attended the event but wished to stay anonymous said that the most important advice they were given was to stay on top of application processes and not let anxiety freeze them.

Berger concluded by informing students that faculty and staff can better support them by becoming more aware of the resources available for international students on campus. For viable information on news and concerns, international students are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Immigration Services or Berger.