International Education Community Pushes Back Against Travel Ban

Members of the higher education community worldwide have condemned Donald Trumps executive order banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Within days of the order, immigration officials revoked a reported 60,000 visas, including F-1 and J-1 visas for incoming international students and scholars. Despite being temporarily lifted by a federal judge's restraining order, the ban could affect more than 20,000 students and scholars from the affected countries who are currently studying in the U.S., and could deter many more who have been accepted for, or may be considering, a U.S. education.

In a statement, Association of American Universities President Mary Sue Coleman said, "The order is stranding students who have been approved to study here and are trying to get back to campus, and threatens to disrupt the education and research of many others.... It is vital to our economy and the national interest that we continue to attract the best students, scientists, engineers and scholars."

ICEF Monitor (02/08/17)