The Trump administration’s recent policies, including visa revocations and federal funding cuts to university research, have led to increased uncertainty in U.S. higher education. As a result, many international students are reconsidering their plans to study in the U.S. For instance, Sierra Moran, a senior at LSU, opted for University College Dublin due to concerns over unstable job prospects and climate change skepticism in U.S. policy. Similarly, international students like Pihu Yadav and Zoya Rehman reversed plans to study in the U.S. after alarming developments, including arrests and visa cancellations targeting student protesters. While the Department of Homeland Security later reversed course on terminating immigration records, the damage to confidence remained. Colleges have voiced concerns about recruitment and retention as the U.S. risks losing its appeal as a premier destination for global education.