The University of Rhode Island’s International Student Services is prepared to help students in the wake of potential changes to United States immigration policy with the new presidency.
It is too early to say what changes, if any, international students could face under the new presidency, according to Melissa De Jesus, the director of International Students and Scholars and Immigration Services. About 438 students attend the URI under F1 and J1 visas, as of December.
“I think nobody really knows exactly the agenda [of] how things will start, so it’s really early to say what changes will impact our international community right now,” De Jesus said.
The Office of International Students and Scholars plans to work with its networks to stay informed on the changes that might impact international students in the coming months, according to De Jesus. The center works closely with the Association of International Educators to stay informed.
The office also communicates with the Rhode Island senators and can use them to look into possible future regulation, according to De Jesus. It also has other avenues students can address concerns through, including an attorney.
“We just don’t know exactly how things are going to go, but we are prepared to talk to our students and advise them in any questions or concerns they might have at the moment in time and go with the current policies that we have,” De Jesus said.
Calypso Delavaud, a third-year journalism and communications major, attends URI through the international students office. Delavaud said international students do not have much information about what could happen to them because the university also does not know. At the moment, international students are waiting to see what happens.
Despite the uncertainty, Delavaid said she is not scared for her academic future at URI because she only has one more year. She does, however, have some concerns for students who have not yet started pursuing higher education.
“The university overall is here to support them [international students] in any way that we can, and if they’re worried, to feel free to always come to our office and talk to us,” De Jesus said.
Students can attend weekday walk-in hours from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. to discuss anything, whether it be concerns they have or to check travel documents. The International Student Center is located on 37 Lower College Rd, Kingston, Rhode Island.