Dear Members of the International Community,
On March 6, 2017, President Trump released a revised executive order restricting the travel of individuals from six countries (Iraq has been removed from the list of countries included in the earlier version of this order). As outlined by the Department of Homeland Security, “Per the Executive Order, foreign nationals from Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, who are outside the United States and who did not have a valid visa at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 27, 2017, and do not have a valid visa on the effective date of the order [March 6, 2017] are not eligible to enter the United States while the temporary suspension remains in effect. Thus, any individual who had a valid visa either on January 27, 2017 (prior to 5:00 PM) or holds a valid visa on the effective date of the Executive Order is not barred from entry”.
We strongly believe that this order, along with the recent, temporary suspension of premium processing for H1-B visa applications, runs counter to the values of our University, and affects our capacity to operate in fulfillment of our mission. We have been and will continue to work with our national member organizations, congressional delegations, and on-campus units to explore how we might address, modify, or eliminate these policies. Our goal remains to advocate for those who are directly impacted as well as the international community at large.
We have continued to maintain a working group that examines the known and potential effects of these policies on our community and want to reiterate President Paxson’s and Provost Locke’s commitment to upholding our core institutional values. If you are directly affected by this new executive order, please reach out to the Office of Global Engagement. For immigration and visa related matters, please contact OISSS directly. As previously stated, we have a number of resources to help you. More broadly, any students and scholars who are concerned about these changes should reach out to our office with questions and for support.
In addition to the support mechanisms detailed on the resources website, we encourage our faculty, staff, students, and scholars to be aware of the following important issues that relate to travel:
- If you are from one of the countries listed, please check in with OISSS before any planned travel.
- If you are from any other country (not listed) and plan to travel, please remember that you are required to carry your appropriate immigration documentation. This is advised for travel both within and outside of the United States. You can find more information regarding travel on the OISSS webpage.
- If you are stopped by an immigration official and need to verify your Brown affiliation, we have established a protocol. If allowed to make a call, please contact the Department of Public Safety (401-863-3322) as they are available 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week (year around). They have been instructed to get in contact with relevant officials on campus to assist in the situation.
Students and scholars on non-immigrant visas may want to familiarize themselves with the ACLU’s ‘Know Your Rights’ tips when encountering law enforcement in the U.S.
We recognize that the current climate has been a cause of great concern. We are committed to your well-being and will continue to remain vigilant in our advocacy of our Brown international community. If you have ideas for programs or events that could be beneficial, please let us know.
In community,
The Office of Global Engagement
Shankar Prasad, Associate Provost for Global Engagement and Strategic Initiatives
Shontay Delalue, Assistant Provost for Global Engagement
Global Brown Community & Support
Walter Wilson, Suite 310