Before the election, The Associated Press is examining some of his immigration policies, including restrictions on international students. Roughly 5.3 million students study outside their home countries, a number that’s more than doubled since 2001. The pandemic has only exacerbated things, including a short-lived Trump administration rule requiring international students to leave if their schools held online-only classes. The Trump administration has floated curtailing Optional Practical Training, a popular program allowing international students to work. NAFSA estimated that since 2016, the decline of new international students cost the U.S. nearly $12 billion and at least 65,000 jobs.