In a letter sent out to faculty and staff on Jan. 31, Nebraska State Chancellor Stan Carpenter reassured Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges that all students, faculty and staff are supported by the college community regardless of their religion or nationality.
The letter went out in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order for a travel ban, which was signed on Jan. 27. The executive order was temporarily blocked on Friday with a federal judge’s order.
The ban was designed to keep refugees from entering the country for 120 days and keep immigrants from the Muslim-majority countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the country for three months. Judge James L. Robart, who represents the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, held off Trump’s ban.
The travel ban has caused concern at colleges and universities around the country that have students from the affected countries. Many students may have to decide between their education and their families.
“Currently, none of the international students are from affected countries, nor are any of the WSC Study Abroad programs,” said Leah Kieno, director of Multicultural Affairs. “We have not received any formal information on any changes regarding students applying for fall admission from any of the identified countries.”
Trump’s actions have caused major backlash around the world. While his measures may be extreme, the idea of restricting travel from these countries isn’t entirely new.
In December 2015, President Barrack Obama signed a law into effect that placed restrictions on certain travelers from Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria.
Libya, Somalia and Yemen were added by the Department of Homeland Security to the list a few months later.
However a complete outright ban was not part of Obama’s policy. It required travelers who had visited those countries since 2011 to apply for a U.S. visa before entering.
Carpenter’s letter states that students who are planning to travel and have concerns should contact the office of the vice president responsible for student affairs. At WSC, this is Vice President of Academic Affairs Steve Elliott.
The letter also pointed out that requests for college-related travel outside of the United States will be carefully reviewed.