NAFSA released its policy priorities and published a new web page that will serve as a go-to resource for all things related to the Trump administration. The page provides updates on presidential nominations, executive actions, and agency initiatives—and includes expert analysis, information on NAFSA's policy recommendations, and advocacy tools to support the field.
On January 22, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Fanta Aw and NAFSA Board of Directors President Ahmad Ezzeddine hosted a LinkedIn Live conversation "Charting the Course for a New Political Environment”. During the event, Aw and Ezzeddine emphasized managing uncertainty through thoughtful planning and staying informed via NAFSA's new online hub that tracks developments related to the current administration. NAFSA policy experts Jill Allen Murray and Rachel Banks also outlined and provided initial reactions to recent executive orders.
In a January 28 blog post, NAFSA staff members Joann Ng Hartmann and Jill Allen Murray responded to an opinion piece in Inside Higher Ed that raised concerns about alleged misuse of the U.S. student visa system. Their response provided a fact-based analysis of student visa overstay statistics, detailed existing safeguards in the U.S. international student system, and addressed specific claims about Curricular Practical Training and student transfers, while highlighting NAFSA's ongoing work to strengthen visa system integrity. related vaccines. This is important for ensuring access to more diverse study abroad destinations.
February 2025
On February 3, NAFSA joined the American Council on Education and 29 other higher education associations in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, congratulating him on his recent confirmation and addressing key priorities for higher education. The organizations emphasized concerns about visa processing delays and denials that could discourage international students from choosing U.S. institutions and reiterated U.S. higher education's commitment to collaborating on national security concerns while protecting beneficial global academic exchange.
On February 13, NAFSA staff members David Fosnocht and Steve Springer hosted a webinar discussing student and scholar advising and the new presidential administration. Topics included the tools a presidential administration can use to effect change, actions and initiatives from the prior Trump administration that may be revived, and steps international educators can take to avoid problems.
