The Toll the Trump Administration's Visa Bans and Freezes Have Taken on Africa's Best and Brightest Students
On December 16, 2025, U.S. President Trump issued a presidential proclamation that modified and expanded the travel ban the Trump administration had put in place in June 2025, citing concerns about visa overstays and inadequate vetting. In total, 39 nationalities are affected by the ban—27 are African.
A recent story from The Wall Street Journal profiles several students from African countries whose education and dreams have been upended by the restrictions. One is Majok Bior, a gifted South Sudanese student who won a full scholarship to Duke University but hasn't been able to return to the North Carolina campus since he traveled home in 2024 for winter break. The piece highlights Bior's attempts to continue his education and the limbo he and others like him are in as they hold out hope for a path forward.
