Immigration Policy Is Negatively Affecting International Student Enrollment

Nada Aly

Iowa State University’s Campanile, a well-known university symbol; located on central campus.

International students are a great part of the Iowa State University (ISU) community.
International students bring a lot to the ISU campus and to fellow peers. They give a positive and
valued impact.

“Probably the biggest impact is the diversified student body and bringing different perspectives
and different experiences to the campus: in terms of how they get involved in classes, all the
different events some of them organize on campus, the conversations and friendships that
develop,” the director of the International Students and Scholars Office here at ISU, Dr. Krista
McCallum Beatty said.

It is notably important to have this international population in ISU because many students at the
institution are from Iowa, Dr. Beatty said. So, having that diversity on campus is an opportunity
for students to meet and see people from other countries they would have otherwise not had the
chance to meet.

Though, native students are not the only ones who are impacted. International students take a lot
from pursuing an education here on campus as well. Many take the leap like Ricardo Rodriguez-
Menas, a Cuban international student at ISU.

“I think it made me more responsible and more patient because compared to where I used to live
this is way more slower- in the environment and speed,” Ricardo said when explaining how his
experience on campus changed him.
International students bring positive impacts, experiences and understanding all around, but the
international student enrollment has decreased.

“There are lots of reasons. What I would point out is numbers are down nationally as well, not
just Iowa State. It’s not something that’s native, it’s not just something unique to Iowa State,”
Beatty said. It is a problem throughout much of the United States campuses considering people
from all over the world. “You’re talking about a very large, very diverse population of people.”

The cause why there is a decrease is partly unknown, but there is really an array of reasons. One
major substantial reason is because of the new policies and administration.

“It [the policies and government] should not [have an effect], but people are just afraid for some
reason. And they have, kind of this sense of fear and insecurity: what might happen? What might
not?” Ricardo said.

These rules have taken a toll on enrollment and even the appeal of studying in the U.S.

“I think that they assume that something bad is going to happen [or] they’re going to be treated
incorrectly beforehand- they might see the news before coming to the United States and think
that this is something that it’s not,” Ricardo continues to say.

The signs and data point to government administration as the leading probable cause of this
decrease and lack of appeal to study abroad in the U.S., according to the PEW Research Center.
Texas and the Midwest region are the most to feel this drop in diversity. In addition, the decrease
in enrollment coincides with a drop in the number of student visas issued; a 17% decrease in new
visas issued for the 2016-2017 year, according to PEW.

This is something that affects everyone, especially students and campuses. That is why it is
important to vote this midterm election, to makes one’s voice heard- making campuses better.
The future of international students’ enrollment in the U.S. is uncertain still, but people’s voices
and choices do not have to be.

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