Growing Anxiety Among Korean Students Abroad... Fear of Trump’s Second Term, Why? [Why&Next]

'Only targeting "illegal" immigrants...
Vulnerable and anxious international students'
Labor risks for U.S. local companies...
"Prevalence of nationalism"

On the 20th (local time), the Korean international student and expatriate communities were engulfed in concern with the launch of the second Trump administration. This was because the 'illegal immigrant' deportation policy, which had been anticipated since Donald Trump emerged as a candidate in last year's U.S. presidential election, became a reality. The psychological burden on international students who had just stepped onto the threshold of local employment has doubled. Even immigration consultants and legal professionals, while conducting paid consultations, only offered vague responses such as "we need to wait and see."

'Only targeting 'illegal' immigrants... vulnerable and anxious international students

According to a compilation of Asia Economy's reporting on the 30th, the most vulnerable group within the Korean community is international students who have just graduated and are about to start working or have recently started working. Lee Seung-hyun (pseudonym), 29, who graduated from an engineering college in the Kansas region in the U.S. Midwest, said, "When Trump’s first term (2017?2021) was underway, many acquaintances in Korea worried that many international students would be expelled," adding, "I also received messages expressing concern that the same situation might happen again this time." However, he expressed his belief that since the Trump administration focused on deporting 'illegal immigrants,' it might be an 'opportunity' for Koreans pursuing 'legal methods.'

It is difficult to predict how Trump's immigration policies will unfold. Yoo Ji-min (pseudonym), 27, who majored in computer science at a university in Chicago, also sought paid consultations with immigration consultants and legal professionals to ease her anxiety. However, the only response she received was the hollow phrase "we need to wait and see." She said, "I have vague worries about whether Trump's anti-immigration policies might negatively affect the immigrant community as a whole."

Choi Ji-yeon (pseudonym), 25, who studied petrochemicals at a university in California, also sighed, saying, "Honestly, I am afraid that the negative image associated with being an 'immigrant' will strengthen," adding, "Even though I am currently working legally through a work visa, I can't help but feel this way." She shared the local atmosphere, saying, "After Trump won the election last year, universities created anxiety by telling international students that if the Trump administration took office, there was a high possibility of an entry ban or disadvantages upon entry, urging them to enter the country before Trump's inauguration."

Labor risks for U.S. local companies... "Prevalence of nationalism"

There is also a counterargument that the shrinking space for Korean and other foreign international students in the U.S. is not a sudden occurrence. An employee A, who specializes in the Americas region at a well-known study abroad center in Gangnam, Seoul, said, "Not only in the U.S. but also in Canada, Australia, and other countries worldwide, borders have been tightened around their own nationals," adding, "This has been the case for a long time, and for students who are not in science and engineering fields, it has become very difficult to find work within the legal stay period after graduation." For example, if one majors in economics at a university in California, it may be difficult to stay long-term unless they secure an internship related to their major within three months. Although science and engineering students are given a longer stay period, which can be advantageous, under the same conditions, companies prefer to hire students with U.S. citizenship, which is a much better option from the company's perspective.

For local companies, this situation is an unavoidable risk. Lee Seung-hyun (pseudonym), who succeeded in local employment, said, "Majors that were previously considered advantageous for employment are now often said to be difficult to find jobs in," adding, "After applying to about 100 companies post-bachelor's graduation, I had interviews at three places, but from the perspective of U.S. companies, hiring international students amid the current increased uncertainty means they have to bear risks." He also lamented, "They also have to invest in people, but I don't know how much reason there is to do so."

Even Korean expatriates who have already settled locally are equally anxious. Kim Hyun-il (pseudonym), 45, who lives in Pasadena near Los Angeles (LA), California, and works as a branch manager at a luxury fashion brand, said, "A friend told me that USC (University of Southern California) sent an email to all international students a week before Trump's inauguration last year, asking them to return to school," adding, "Since Trump mentioned plans to offer 'green cards' to all university graduates, I am watching with anticipation to see how this will unfold." He added, "I don't remember well because several years have passed since the first term, but I do recall a Hong Kong friend worrying about not being able to return to school at that time."

Trump's impulsive and unrefined language is also a problem. According to Radio Korea, a Korean newspaper in the Americas region, during an interview with a pop podcast in June last year when he was a candidate, President Trump made a shocking proposal that "foreigners graduating from American universities should automatically be granted green card permanent residency." Former President Trump suggested expanding the issuance of permanent residency, saying, "We need highly skilled workers." He also said that community college (CC) graduates would be given automatic permanent residency benefits. However, shortly after, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign issued a statement immediately revising the remarks, saying, "This proposal will apply only to foreigners who pass strict screening as highly skilled workers, not all U.S. university graduates."

In California, which borders Mexico, the local people's anxiety is inevitably greater as President Trump has openly expressed hostility. California, with a high proportion of immigrants, is traditionally known as a 'Democratic stronghold' and has a strong progressive leaning. President Trump mocked California as a "great example" of so-called 'sanctuary cities' that do not comply with immigration orders. He also criticized Governor Gavin Newsom's immigration policies and threatened to cut federal funding if immigration orders were defied.