The Democrats have won control of both chambers of Congress, securing majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives. They also flipped key Senate seats in traditionally Republican states, such as Kansas, which has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932.
This sweeping wave of blue across the US comes at an important time for international students studying in the country, as the Trump administration continues to restrict the opportunities available to them.
Reacting to the win, Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, said the results “underscored that voters are paying attention to fairness and common sense talk and proposals.”
“The next Congress will have an important opportunity to examine the cumulative effects of visa delays and denials, travel restrictions, immigration enforcement impacting campuses, and limits on practical training,” she added.
The Democratic victory means that the Trump administration will face greater opposition in Congress, making it harder to pass legislation without Democratic support. They will also be able to block or delay presidential appointments requiring Senate confirmation, and could force the White House to negotiate over legislation.
Most recently on October 7, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a proposed rule which would charge US universities $70,000 for each international student they recommend for Optional Practical Training (OPT). Institutions would have to pay a further $30,000 per year for extensions of a student’s initial OPT.
If implemented, the proposed fees could also make it harder for universities to sustain the additional costs of supporting international students.
In August, DHS announced that Curricular Practical Training (CPT), the program allowing international students to take internships and work placements during their studies, should only be granted where it is a degree requirement.
This prompted the cancellation of thousands of internships for international students, according to organisations challenging the move, with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Penn among the institutions to review or tighten their rules.
The Presidents’ Alliance said it would like to see “forward-looking solutions” that “provide more predictability and certainty for students, institutions, and employers” to build a system that “welcomes international students and scholars.”
One student, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The PIE News that they feel “relief” but are still “cautious” about what the future may hold for international students in the US.
“The policies that hurt us most were executive orders, not legislation. A Democratic Congress can apply pressure, but it cannot undo those orders on day one…Around campus I sense cautious optimism, but also exhaustion, people have been through too much uncertainty to get excited over one election night.”
They say “the damage to the US brand as a study destination has already happened” and that students who left this year “will not return” because of the election result.
The midterm elections, which take place halfway through a president’s four-year term, mark a crucial point in a presidency, as Americans vote for members of Congress, the body responsible for creating and passing federal laws.
These laws apply nationwide and must be passed by both chambers of Congress before being approved by the president. The president can sign or veto a bill, but Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.
The results therefore determine how easy it will be for the current president to carry out their legislative plans, although many immigration policies can still be pursued through executive action.
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, said the elections “remind us that our values are not determined by election cycles,” but that they are “the compass that guides us through them.”
“With a new Congress arriving, there is an opportunity to strengthen the US role in research, workforce development, knowledge diplomacy, and national security…As ever, NAFSA will work with legislators of both parties to show how international education advances each of these goals.”
