Abstract
Trump era immigration and visa policies have created a restrictive environment that disproportionately burdens international students from countries subject to United States travel restrictions and heightened vetting regimes. These policies operate through nationality-based entry restrictions, discretionary denials, extended administrative processing, and intensified screening. At Minnesota State University, Mankato, students from restricted countries face delayed arrivals, visa denials, disrupted reentry after travel, and uncertainty regarding immigration compliance, potentially reducing enrollment rates, increasing dropout risk, intensifying psychological stress, and weakening institutional trust.
This study employed a mixed methods of explanatory case study design centered on Minnesota State University, Mankato. Data sources included a structured student survey of twelve international students from restricted countries, a key informant interview with university staff, institutional administrative data, and policy legal analysis. Theoretical frameworks included Critical Race Theory and intersectionality. Quantitative analysis used descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Seventy five percent of respondents reported strong negative effects of Trump era policies. Twenty five percent experienced visa processing delays, and 25 percent received additional documentation requests. Academic impacts included late arrivals, missed registration, reduced course loads, delayed graduation, and difficulty accessing Optional Practical Training. Eighty three percent perceived nationality as influencing visa outcomes. Thirty-three percent avoided travel entirely, and 33 percent experienced additional screening at ports of entry. Only 17 percent rated university support as helpful and sufficient, while 58 percent rated institutional handling of policy challenges as not well. The study concludes that restrictive immigration policies produce measurable educational inequities and recommends enhanced institutional support, legal services, academic flexibility, and policy advocacy.
Advisor
Kebba Darboe
Committee Member
Paul Prew
Date of Degree
2026
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Program of Study
Ethnic and Multicultural Studies
Department
Economics, Government, and Ethnic Studies
College
Humanities and Social Sciences
Recommended Citation
Wazwaz, A. (2026). How have Trump-era immigation and visa policies affected international students from the 75 restricted countries at Minnesota State University, Mankato [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1639/
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