Dear Unnamed,
Greetings from San Diego! NAFSA’s Annual Conference & Expo has been an incredible convergence of energy, enthusiasm, reflection—and news from the Trump administration! We are working hard to make sure you have the information you need to make sense (to the degree that it is possible) of the latest developments.
Here are some key takeaways as captured in a NAFSA blog post.
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NAFSA is working to obtain clarity on the U.S. Department of State cable that ordered a pause on scheduling student or exchange visitor visa interviews (F, M, and J categories) until additional social media vetting measures can be applied. While the full text of the official cable has not been publicly released, NAFSA CEO and Executive Director Fanta Aw emphasized in a statement that this action is misguided and self-defeating. Aw is actively conveying this message through major media outlets, including PBS NewsHour and Fox News.
- The pause in scheduling student visa interviews applies from the day it was announced until further notice. It is important that students who have appointments scheduled proceed with their interviews. NAFSA has received confirmation that some students have received visas since the pause was announced. We have also received reports of some visa interview appointments being canceled. We are closely monitoring which posts are canceling appointments.
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On May 22, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it was “revoking” Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which quickly drew a temporary restraining order preserving the status quo and a rebuke from NAFSA’s CEO. DHS now appears to be following the existing regulatory process to withdraw Harvard's certification.
Some positive news: On May 29, the courts extended the temporary injunction and indicated that the status quo is to remain in place while the Notice of Intent to Withdraw process is ongoing. More information is available on NAFSA’s website. Also on May 29, Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce indicated during a press briefing that the pause would be brief: “...there is an endpoint, and it should be rather quick, as consulates and embassies make adjustments when it comes to how they handle visas.”
The press briefing also addressed the May 28 statement by Secretary Rubio that the Department will "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields” and would “revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong." The revised criteria have not yet been provided.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you are here for the NAFSA conference, join your colleagues for an informal conversation on the latest administration actions (Room 29ABCD of the Convention Center at 11:30 am Pacific Time).
Our call for congressional action has been updated to include these recent threats. Take a moment to add your voice to the message that we cannot afford to close our doors to the next generation of global leaders, innovators, and allies. Urge Congress to convey to the Departments of State and Homeland Security that it should be a national priority to welcome international students and scholars to study and succeed here.
The message we have provided can easily be used to inform your campus officials, your federal relations officer, and even the athletic director at your institution.
It has been so meaningful to connect with so many readers of Connecting Our World here in San Diego. Thank you for saying hello, for your kind words, and for carrying on with your brave work in these challenging times. As Fanta shared from the plenary stage on Tuesday, quoting an African proverb: “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
Abrazos,
Erica
Erica Stewart
Senior Director, Advocacy & Strategic Communications
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
