Trump’s early presidency was marked by a flurry of executive orders. He signed 143 executive orders in his first 100 days, setting a record for any president.
The orders included travel bans in Muslim-majority countries, crackdowns on undocumented immigrants and sweeping changes to visa policies, all of which created confusion and fear for many international students.
Orders such as Executive Order 14159, which expanded expedited removal processes for undocumented immigrants, created uncertainty for international students.
Executive Order 14173 also revoked anti-discrimination policies for federal contractors, potentially affecting protections for international students and faculty working on federal grants.
Additionally, Executive Order 14169, paused foreign aid programs for 90 days, impacting educational exchange programs that many international students rely on.
For a Nigerian international student studying chemical engineering who preferred to remain anonymous to avoid being targeted by the Trump administration, the consequences were swift and devastating to him.
“I knew policies would be enacted that would affect me, but I didn’t think it was going to be that immediate,” he said.
Within the first few weeks of the new administration, he lost his student visa status due to rapid immigration policy changes. The loss meant he could no longer legally study, work, or intern in the United States.
“I [can’t] go to school, get any job or off campus or even have an internship,” he said.
With his legal status in limbo, he received a call from the international student office.
“Officials didn’t know how to help us,” he said. “The most legal advice they could give us was to leave immediately and then go to our home country so they will issue us a new I-20.”
He recalled the panic that swept through his community.
“Initially when it happened, I was freaking out. My life had ended. That was what pushed a lot of students to leave the country,” he said.
Beyond immigration paperwork, he noted a more hostile climate.
“American politicians speak like they’ve never seen humans outside the U.S. before,” he said. “I’m not a citizen, I understand. My rights are limited, and I’m more of a second-class human here.”
During the administration’s early days, proposals emerged that would limit student visas to two years for citizens from 59 countries, including Nigeria. Though ultimately blocked, the proposal reinforced fears among international students.
HBCUs Under the Trump Administration
Other members of the Howard community are concerned about what they see as indirect but severe consequences for HBCUs under Trump’s renewed leadership.
Ingrid Sturgis, Chair of the Department of Media, Journalism and Film at Howard University, pointed to deep funding cuts to organizations like the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“That impacts people who research HBCU campuses,” she said.
She added that while local education budgets aren’t primarily federally funded, the rollback of national research grants affects faculty and student opportunities.
“I’m worried about what’s gonna happen to some of the families of my students,” she said. “I’m worried about what could potentially happen to the university.”
Sturgis also commented on a broader climate of suppression.
“Right now we’re all feeling like we can’t say these things, but we have a First Amendment right,” she said. “We have a right to say them, we have a right to discuss them.”
Katherine Wiley, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, emphasized that attacks on these schools don’t always come through direct statements.
“The Trump administration has not directly targeted HBCUs, but with the funding cuts that are happening, they don’t have to do it directly,” Wiley said.
Despite the backlash the administration has received, The White House announced an executive order on April 23 “to promote excellence and innovation” at HBCUs.
The order included building pipelines so elementary and secondary school students are encouraged to attend HBCUs, addressing college affordability, modernizing campuses and more to improve the viability of HBCUs
Tariffs
In addition to new immigration policies and funding rollbacks, the administration’s recent tariff policies have added additional economic strain on students.
Increased prices on electronics and clothing have added to everyday expenses. The Consumer Technology Association(CTA) estimates that the cost of computers and tablets could increase by 46 to 68 percent.
The effects of these tariffs are being seen in the fashion industry as well. Popular sites like SHEIN that many students go to for affordable clothing, have raised their prices in response to the tariffs.
Before May 2, SHEIN, Temu and other companies known for affordable products had been able to avoid tariffs if they shipped goods worth less than $800. According to the White House in an executive order Trump recently signed, these exemptions called “de minimis” will no longer be valid.
According to Reuters, companies will either have to pay a 120 percent tariff or a $100 fee per item which will rise to $200 in June.
As a result, Shein has increased prices on some items by as much as 377 percent based on figures compiled by Bloomberg News.
In a climate where resources are being pulled back and opportunities have been lost, higher prices add to the reshaping of student life due to Trump’s administration.
Job and Internship Opportunities
For some college students, internships aren’t just opportunities to gain work experience, they’re critical stepping stones into the job market.
However for many, especially those relying on government-funded programs, opportunities are becoming increasingly fragile due to shifting federal policies and hiring freezes.
Tolu Fajemirokun, a junior computer information systems major from Lagos, Nigeria echoed the chemical engineering student’s sentiments of feeling the immediate effects of Trump’s administration.
“Having my internship rescinded bruised my confidence. I secured an offer from my dream company and had all my hard work taken away. When roles disappear, it makes you question your path and whether your goals are within reach,” she said.
Fajemirokun’s experience is not an isolated case. Annabel Chung, an international relations and history major with a legal studies sequence at Claremont McKenna College, was selected for the prestigious U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program (USFSIP) for the summers of 2025 and 2026.
In early 2025, she received a letter from the U.S. Department of State informing her that her offer had been rescinded due to a federal hiring freeze enacted under a recent executive order.
In a LinkedIn post, Chung shared her frustration: “Losing this opportunity due to circumstances beyond my control is frustrating—not just for me, but for so many students and early-career professionals who rely on federal internships to launch their careers,” she said.
These individuals’ stories reflect a border, data-driven trend. According to a February 2025 report from Inside Higher Ed, approximately 12 percent of college students report that they have not participated in an internship and do not expect to do so before graduating.
The two reasons include time constraints due to coursework, a lack of available positions, and unsuccessful applications. Notably, internship postings dropped 15 percent between January 2023 and January 2025, while competition for these roles intensified as student applications surged seven percent from 2023 to 2024.
“I had heard about companies starting to rescind their offers after he took office, but I honestly didn’t think it would get to me. Never say ‘This could never be me’ because I was truly humbled when it was me with no backup plan,” Chung said.
When reflecting on the experience, Fajemirokun admitted to being shocked by the swiftness of Trump’s policies.
“I knew things would be different when Trump won, but I never expected to be so directly affected so soon,” she said.
Despite the setbacks, both Chung and Fajemirokun are pressing forward. Chung is actively seeking new opportunities in foreign policy and public service, while Fajemirokun continues to pursue her degree and re-establish her post-graduate plans.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
