Coalition of College and University Presidents Lauds Biden Administration for Granting Special Student Relief and TPS for South Sudan and Designating Sudan for TPS

COALITION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS LAUDS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR GRANTING SPECIAL STUDENT RELIEF AND TPS FOR SOUTH SUDAN AND DESIGNATING SUDAN FOR TPS
Special student relief provides relief and flexibility for international students in the country

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2022
Contact: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org)

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a coalition of over 500 college and university presidents, commended the Biden administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for their announcement that they would offer Special Student Relief (SSR) to South Sudanese international students in the United States, redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan, and newly designate Sudan for TPS. Over 7,000 people from Sudan and South Sudan are set to gain new TPS protections from today’s designations. Close to 100 students from South Sudan would benefit from SSR.

Jill Welch, Senior Advisor to the Presidents’ Alliance, stated: “Today’s TPS and SSR announcements for South Sudan and TPS designation for Sudan represent a tremendously positive development for our Sudanese and South Sudanese neighbors and students. We are pleased to see the Biden administration couple SSR with TPS, rather than allowing months to go by in between the two types of relief. According to Open Doors data, there were 95 South Sudanese students enrolled in U.S. higher education in 2020-21, and much like other students whose countries of origin are experiencing crises, these students need to be allowed the flexibility to drop below course load without losing student status and to work off-campus to help mitigate enormous financial strain. SSR allows them to do just this. 

It would be negligent not to add that even as we applaud today’s TPS and SSR announcements, we must not forget that our Afghan, Ukrainian, Cameroon, and Central American students and scholars also need TPS and SSR and a durable solution both from Congress and the administration, as do our undocumented students, scholars, and staff who are integral parts of our campus communities.”

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The nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities and nation. We work to advance just, forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal, state, and campus levels that are consistent with our heritage as a nation of immigrants and the academic values of equity and openness. The Alliance is composed of over 500 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.