450+ College and University Presidents Oppose Administration’s New Travel Ban

450+ COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS OPPOSE ADMINISTRATION’S NEW TRAVEL BAN

New travel ban indirectly hurts international students, scholars, and faculty

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE STATEMENT

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 31, 2020

Contact: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org) 

Washington, D.C.—The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, representing over 450 college and university presidents across the United States, strongly opposes the administration’s new travel ban, which bans various types of immigrants from Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania from entering the United States. Both the existing travel ban and its expansion represent an affront to our nation’s values and the core values of higher education, particularly in regards to the impact it will have on international students, faculty, and families from these countries. While international students from these countries are not banned, the banning of other immigrant types will discourage international students from coming to our country and undermine our nation’s ability to fully attract and retain international talent. The Presidents’ Alliance calls on the administration to reconsider its decision and rescind the expansion. 

Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director of Presidents’ Alliance, stated: “The expansion of the travel ban needlessly undermines the ability of international students and scholars to contribute to our nation’s institutions of higher education by compromising our country’s ability to fully welcome and retain international students and scholars. The new ban, like the previous bans, will lead to significant disruption to immigrants from these countries; separate these individuals from their families and loved ones; and do nothing to improve or strengthen our national security. The ability to attract and retain international students and scholars enhances the academic, cultural, and economic character of our nation—an ability that is undermined when any category of immigrants are banned. We urge the administration to rescind this misguided policy and instead recommit to our nation’s historic principles of inclusion and equity.”

The nonpartisan Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings together college and university leaders dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and communities, and supporting policies that create a welcoming environment for undocumented, immigrant, and international students. The Alliance is comprised of over 450 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, representing over four million students in 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

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