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Summer of uncertainty for some U of R students

rochester.edu

The University of Rochester is offering help for some international students who are staying here because they are concerned they may not be able to return to the U.S.  if they go home for the summer.

President Trump has sought to enact a travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries, and his directives are currently blocked by the courts.

Mustapha Ibrahim is from Somalia, one of the countries on Trump's list.

He just completed his freshman year at the U of R.

"I might go home and may never be able to come back.  So I would rather not go home for at least one more year, and stay around here and take classes and do other things that I can," he said.

Molly Jolliff is Director of international student engagement at the U of R.

She polled students who said they are confused about what to do, all this coming at a stressful time in the school year.

Jolliff said her department is offering counseling and additional support for students they consider at "high risk," even if it's a perceived level of risk.

"We supported them by providing summer housing and food resources as well.  Some of them will be taking a course here and others will be doing internships and research," she said.

Ibrahim says thanks to the University, he's found a summer job, additional classes, free housing and dining.

He hopes to return to his home in Somalia in the summer of 2018.