Penn State President Eric Barron on Sunday said the university is joining with the American Association of Universities in asking for an end to President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration barring entry to the United States from seven countries.
The order, signed by Trump on Friday, bans individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — from entering or re-entering the United States for 90 days, suspends refugee admissions for 120 days and suspends the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely.
Barron said that to his knowledge no Penn State students or faculty from those countries are currently traveling abroad.
‘But the problems that are surfacing with the order are clear, and we join the Association of American Universities and universities all across the country in asking that the order be ended as soon as possible,’ he said in a message to the Penn State community, noting reports of students at other U.S. universities being stranded because of the order.
The AAU, which is comprised of 62 universities, issued a statement on Saturday from its president, Mary Sue Coleman, that the order ‘is already causing damage and should end as quickly as possible.
‘We also urge the Administration, as soon as possible, to make clear to the world that the United States continues to welcome the most talented individuals from all countries to study, teach, and carry out research and scholarship at our universities,’ Coleman wrote. ‘It is vital to our economy and the national interest that we continue to attract the best students, scientists, engineers, and scholars.’
Coleman said the order may threaten the nation’s standing as the global leader in higher education.
Barron gave his support to the AAU’s position and to all members of the Penn State community
‘Please know that the University fully supports all members of our academic community,’ he wrote. ‘We remain committed to respecting and honoring the dignity of each individual, embracing civil discourse, and fostering a diverse and inclusive community. We recognize and believe strongly that the diversity of faculty, staff and students enriches all of us and enables our mission of research, teaching, service and economic development.
‘The best part of Penn State is our people — no matter what country they may call home. We support all of you.’
He said that the university is monitoring developments to better understand how the order may affect Penn State and its students and faculty from other nations.
Barron also made two specific recommendations for international students and faculty.
The first is that whenever traveling within the United States, they should carry immigration documents to prove their legal status.
The second recommendation urges non-U.S. citizens and their families ‘to refrain from traveling outside the United States until greater clarity is apparent.’
Also on Sunday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro joined attorneys general from 16 states in a joint statement condemning Trump’s immigration order, calling it ‘unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful.’
The statement said they were confident the order would ultimately be struck down by the courts.
‘In the meantime, we are committed to working to ensure that as few people as possible suffer from the chaotic situation that it has created,’ they wrote.
