Beyond tariffs: Trump trampling higher education beyond repair

Part 1: Undue attacks on international students

Trump’s crackdown on international students jeopardizes US higher education

When Donald Trump campaigned on the slogan “America First,” few could have predicted that it would extend to trampling one of the country’s most vital engines of prosperity: its world-class higher education system. Yet today, we’re witnessing an unimaginable erosion of that system, fueled by relentless and misguided attacks on international students.

The damage is not hypothetical. More than 1,000 international students, including those from India, have already been deported from over 130 US institutions in recent weeks alone for minor or unclear administrative reasons. These actions don’t just harm the students. They undercut the integrity, finances, and future of American universities. In effect, international students have become pawns in a political drama and whimsical pattern in the White House that threatens to turn away the very people who have helped make America great.

A threat to the foundation of US education

International students are not peripheral participants in American academia, but central to its excellence and sustainability. They pay full tuition more often than not, receive little or no financial aid, and in doing so, contributed over $40 billion to the US economy in 2023 alone, according to NAFSA.

Beyond economics, they fuel academic vibrancy and innovation. In STEM graduate programs, more than half of the students, particularly in computer science and engineering, are international. India and China constitute the biggest pool of STEM international students in the US These individuals don’t just earn degrees—they conduct research, lead labs, teach undergraduates, and finally become a part of America’s innovation hub. They are integral to the knowledge production process that has made the US a global leader in scientific discovery.

From classrooms to corner offices

Look no further than Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet/ Google. Both of them arrived in the US as international students. Their stories are far from unique. Immigrants and international alumni founded or led 55% of US tech unicorns and contributed to more than 25% of all US patents, often starting during their time in US universities. How will we continue on that path to make America great while unjustly deporting international students?

One wonders: Is there space in Trump’s “Make America Great Again” vision for minds like Nadella and Pichai? Can we realistically expect to remain a leader in AI, biotech, or clean energy if we shut out the talent that has historically built these fields?

A self-inflicted wound

The Trump-era policies—from ICE directives threatening to deport students to increased visa scrutiny and unpredictable enforcement—have already driven many students away. Worse, they have left others fearful or disillusioned. Applications from international students are falling because of the fear, uncertainty, and unpredictability of the Trump administration’s policies. Institutions are either rescinding admission letters or considering not admitting graduate students due to uncertainties associated with federal grants (a topic to be covered in the second part of this series). America may never recover from the damage already underway.

Meanwhile, Canada, the UK, and Australia are stepping in with streamlined student visa policies, residency options post-graduation, and public messaging that global talent is welcome. They are not just competing—they are winning.

Collateral damage: Research, innovation, and global relations

The consequences go well beyond university balance sheets. Fewer international students mean fewer research breakthroughs, startups, and scientific discoveries on American soil. This isn’t conjecture. According to the National Science Foundation, China surpassed the US in total scientific publications and patent filings in 2023—a symbolic but sobering indicator that leadership is shifting. Do we continue down that path by turning away the talent that has proven potential to make America great?

We must also acknowledge the human cost. Many students have used their families’ life savings to pursue a dream, only to be denied the dignity of completing it. Deportation for minor infractions, visa misunderstandings, or policy shifts is causing devastating and irreversible long-term consequences to their careers and families. The ripple effects will be felt not just in the US but globally in diplomatic and economic relationships.

The road ahead

The United States cannot afford to treat global talent as disposable or inhumanely. They deserve respect and dignity because international students were never the problem. But if we continue to drive them away, we will find the US short on scientific, economic, innovative, diplomatic, and moral grounds.

The strength of the American education system has always been rooted in its openness—its ability to attract, absorb, and elevate the best minds from across the globe. Undermining this system in the name of nationalism is not a sound or sustainable policy—it is sabotage of our longstanding values and practices. And if we are not deliberate, wise, and thoughtful, the damage will be beyond repair.

The next part will focus on how the relentless cuts on Federal grants are causing irreparable damage to higher education in the United States.

To be continued…

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post Beyond tariffs: Trump trampling higher education beyond repair appeared first on PGurus.