"The ban was one of several ways the Trump administration made life harder for international students during his first year back in the White House, including a pause in visa appointments and additional layers of vetting that contributed to a dip in foreign enrollment for first-time students. New students had to look elsewhere, but the hurdles made life particularly complicated for those like Thaw who were well into their U.S. college careers."
"Universities have had to come up with increasingly flexible solutions, such as bringing back pandemic-era remote learning arrangements or offering admission to international campuses they partner with, said Sarah Spreitzer, assistant vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education. In Thaw's case, a Michigan administrator highlighted studying abroad as an option. As long as the travel ban was in place, a program in Australia seemed viable - at least initially."
Patrick Thaw was stranded in Singapore after a summer internship when a U.S. travel ban targeting Myanmar and paused visa services prevented his timely return to campus. The travel restrictions coincided with extra vetting that contributed to a drop in first-time foreign student enrollment. Universities responded by reinstating pandemic-era remote learning options and offering placements at partner international campuses to accommodate affected students. A Michigan administrator suggested study abroad as a temporary solution, and a program in Australia appeared viable while the ban remained in effect. Thaw experienced isolation abroad and felt mentally tied to Ann Arbor while physically unable to return.
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