As Students, Families, Schools Grapple with Effects of Trump’s Immigration Ban, Murray Calls on Betsy DeVos to Announce Position on Action “Wreaking Havoc Throughout Our Education System”

President Trump’s EO banning Muslims from entering U.S. has been devastating for schools and colleges nationwide and around the world—LINK

International students have been stranded outside of U.S. unable to return to their studies—LINK

Today in new letter Murray asks Trump’s education nominee whether she supports ban given her potential role and responsibility to help safeguard all students

Nearly 50 higher education associations have opposed the ban, including Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, which represents University of Washington and Washington State University—LINK

Murray: “This Executive Order sets forth xenophobic, intolerant, and prejudiced policies that are already wreaking havoc throughout our education system”

“As the nominee for the important position of Secretary of Education, I would like to know if you support this Executive Order”

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today sent a letter to Betsy DeVos, nominee for Education Secretary, asking whether she supports President Trump’s Executive Order halting immigration and refugee resettlement to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries.

“This action to ban Muslims from entering the United States is against our American values and has broad consequences for our nation’s students—from our youngest learners to those in higher education,” wrote Senator Murray to DeVos. “It is also doing great harm to faculty, staff, and researchers at schools, colleges, and universities across the country and around the world…as the nominee for the important position of Secretary of Education, I would like to know if you support this Executive Order.”

As a result of President Trump’s action, visas awarded to international students enrolled in United States colleges and universities from seven Muslim-majority countries have been canceled, without warning and without notice. In the letter, Murray cites the story of one student who was denied entry at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after simply going overseas for a routine renewal of her visa, which is required under the law.

According to the Institute for International Education, more than 17,000 students from the seven Muslim-majority countries targeted by the Muslim ban studied at American universities last year.  

“As students from Muslim-majority countries—including students from countries that are not currently targeted by this Muslim ban—look to study in the United States, Europe, or elsewhere in the world, this Executive Order will prevent our nation’s universities from attracting the best and brightest to study and research…Instead, this ban is inciting fear in a generation of young students who only want to better their lives and their communities by studying at American colleges and universities.”

Murray says she expects a response from Ms. DeVos before the cloture vote on her nomination on the Senate floor.

Full letter below or click HERE for a PDF. 

February 2, 2017

Ms. Betsy DeVos

Secretary-Designate, U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

Dear Ms. DeVos,

President Trump’s Executive Order signed on January 27, 2017, titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” halts immigration and refugee resettlement to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries. This action to ban Muslims from entering the United States is against our American values and has broad consequences for our nation’s students—from our youngest learners to those in higher education. It is also doing great harm to faculty, staff, and researchers at schools, colleges, and universities across the country and around the world. While other federal agencies are responsible for implementing the President’s actions, as the nominee for the important position of Secretary of Education, I would like to know if you support this Executive Order.

This Executive Order sets forth xenophobic, intolerant, and prejudiced policies that are already wreaking havoc throughout our education system. Educators, children, and families around the country are trying to grapple with the effects of this Executive Order on their communities. Thousands of children of immigrants have been traumatized by the President’s announcement. These students worry about being able to visit their relatives and their safety in and around school. In addition, visas awarded to international students enrolled in United States colleges and universities from these seven Muslim-majority countries have been canceled, without warning and without notice. This has left many international students stranded outside of the United States uncertain about whether they will be allowed to return to their studies in the United States. For example, one student, the elected president of her college’s graduate student association, was denied entry at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after simply going overseas for a routine renewal of her visa, which is required under the law.

Many thousands of students from Muslim-majority countries have been told to cancel any planned overseas travel, and students from other countries have been advised to return to the United States immediately, at great personal expense. Nearly 50 higher education associations representing the vast majority of colleges and universities in the United States are publicly opposing the ban, including the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, which represents both the University of Washington and Washington State University.[i]

According to the Institute for International Education, more than 17,000 students from the seven Muslim-majority countries targeted by the Muslim ban studied at American universities last year.[ii] These are students our country should be continuing to welcome into our institutions of higher education to contribute to the rich diversity of America, which is a defining element of our culture, history, and values. Instead, this ban is inciting fear in a generation of young students who only want to better their lives and their communities by studying at American colleges and universities.

A healthy support system surrounding each college student is essential for a student’s success, and that includes a student’s family. Yet, this ban on Muslim immigrants and refugees will prevent many international students from returning home to see their families in the case of emergency, family illness, or for breaks between terms. As students from Muslim-majority countries—including students from countries that are not currently targeted by this Muslim ban—look to study in the United States, Europe, or elsewhere in the world, this Executive Order will prevent our nation’s universities from attracting the best and brightest to study and research, which is vital for the economic development that results from innovation and scientific breakthroughs at our nation’s higher education institutions. These would-be students and scholars could have been on their way to curing cancer or helping to solve our climate crisis, but are now riddled with fear of persecution. The ban may also severely damage our relationships in Middle Eastern countries, which are home to foreign branch campuses of several American colleges and universities. Noted scholars and faculty from Muslim-majority countries—including those countries that are not currently targeted by this ban on Muslim immigrants and refugees—are questioning whether they are welcome in the United States.

Given the role that you are nominated to play on behalf of these students, faculty, and staff, do you support this Executive Order? I look forward to hearing from you on this issue before the cloture vote on your nomination on the Senate floor.

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