The University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel says U-M won’t be releasing the immigration status of its students

I’m proud to see that my alma mater, the University of Michigan, was quick to issue a statement this evening, in light of President Trump’s most recent executive action to ban individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries, to say that they would not be releasing the immigration status of their students. The following comes from the website of U-M Present Mark Schlissel.

For generations, the University of Michigan has been known throughout the world as a leading international community of scholars. U-M has admitted international students since the late 1840s, and our first foreign-born faculty member was hired in 1846. Our ability to attract the best students and faculty from around the globe enhances our teaching, learning, research and societal impact and is in part responsible for our standing as a great public research university.

Fostering an environment that promotes education and research at the highest levels is among my most important responsibilities as the University of Michigan’s president. The leadership of the university is committed to protecting the rights and opportunities currently available to all members of our academic community, and to do whatever is possible within the law to continue to identify, recruit, support and retain academic talent, at all levels, from around the world.

We are currently focused on potential changes to immigration laws, policies and practices that could affect the status and safety of U-M students and personnel, particularly international students and those who may be undocumented. This includes several programs and policies that affect international students and faculty. Additionally, we are working to understand the implications on our community of the “extreme vetting” executive order blocking immigration from certain countries.

Many of our efforts are in collaboration with major academic organizations including the Association of American Universities (AAU) and Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). U-M is among more than 600 colleges and universities who have signed a letter supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Executive Order. Here on campus, we have established a working group to help us better understand the needs and concerns of international members of our campus community and to consider ideas for additional support.

The university also supports legislation known as the BRIDGE Act that would allow individuals in the U.S. who arrived as children to stay in the country for another three years without the threat of deportation, while Congress addresses changes to the immigration system. BRIDGE stands for Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy, and it was introduced with bipartisan congressional support.

More information on U-M’s support of undocumented students, as well as information on how you can contact your legislators if you wish to support BRIDGE, is available from Public Affairs. We will keep the U-M community informed by updating this page with any related developments, so I urge you to check it regularly.

The university’s actions related to immigration status are consistent with our long-standing positions on non-discrimination, privacy and public safety. Those are:

The University of Michigan welcomes and supports students without regard to their immigration status. We will continue to admit students in a manner consistent with our non-discrimination policy. Once students are admitted, the university is committed to fostering an environment in which each student can flourish.

The university complies with federal requirements associated with managing its international programs. Otherwise, the university does not share sensitive information like immigration status.

Campus police do not inquire about or record immigration status when performing their duties.

In accordance with federal law, the enforcement of immigration law rests with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Campus police will not partner with federal, state, or other local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law except when required to do so by law.

The university maintains a strong commitment to the privacy of student records for all students, consistent with state and federal laws. We do not provide information on immigration status to anyone except when required by law.

The university offers in-state tuition to undocumented students who meet certain conditions.

The university offers confidential counseling services to all students.

If you’re looking to make your feelings about the Muslim ban known, you have three opportunities tomorrow. There’s a protest in Ann Arbor tomorrow between 12:00 and 3:00 [Peaceful Protest Against Immigration Ban (And Everything Else)], in Hamtramck at 2:00 [Emergency Protest Hamtramck: We Stand in Solidarity with Muslims] and at Detroit Metro Airport from 4:00 to 6:00 [DTW: Emergency Protest Against Muslim Ban].

One more thing that you may find of interest about this executive action of Trump’s, which bars all entry for the next 90 days by those coming from the majority-Muslim countries of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya. The list does not include all majority-Muslim nations. Missing from the list are countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, all of which have one thing in common. Trump has significant business interests in each of them.

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8 Comments

  1. Gary McCririe
    Posted January 28, 2017 at 10:43 pm | Permalink

    I’m curious if federal financial aid will enter into his discussion????

  2. Meta
    Posted January 28, 2017 at 10:51 pm | Permalink

    New York Times: Refugees Detained at U.S. Airports, Prompting Legal Challenges to Trump’s Immigration Order

    A federal judge blocked part of President Trump’s executive order on immigration on Saturday evening, ordering that refugees and others trapped at airports across the United States should not be sent back to their home countries. But the judge stopped short of letting them into the country or issuing a broader ruling on the constitutionality of Mr. Trump’s actions.

    Lawyers who sued the government to block the White House order said the decision, which came after an emergency hearing in a New York City courtroom, could affect an estimated 100 to 200 people who were detained upon arrival at American airports in the wake of the order that Mr. Trump signed on Friday afternoon, a week into his presidency.

    Judge Ann M. Donnelly of Federal District Court in Brooklyn, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama, ruled just before 9 p.m. that implementing Mr. Trump’s order by sending the travelers home could cause them “irreparable harm.”

    Dozens of people waited outside of the courthouse chanting, “Set them free!” as lawyers made their case. When the crowd learned that Judge Donnelly had ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, a rousing cheer went up in the crowd.

    Read more:
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/28/us/refugees-detained-at-us-airports-prompting-legal-challenges-to-trumps-immigration-order.html

  3. Posted January 29, 2017 at 1:20 am | Permalink

    Screen Shot 2017-01-29 at 1.18.35 AM

  4. Posted January 29, 2017 at 1:22 am | Permalink

    Gary, I haven’t followed it closely, but I heard mention that, somehow, the feds might punish communities with sanctuary ordinances. I suppose, if they could find a way, they could also punish universities that refuse to play ball. I don’t know what’s possible, though. If there’s a way, I suspect they’ll try it.

  5. Katherine
    Posted January 30, 2017 at 9:34 am | Permalink

    U-M internal communication on undocumented students:

    Several communication items have been posted over this past weekend related to U-M’s support for undocumented students. We will continue to post any new information to the Public Affairs key issues site: (http://publicaffairs.vpcomm.umich.edu/key-issues/)

    The information includes:

    A message from the U-M International Center
    (http://umich.edu/announcements/)

    A statement of support for DACA and the Bridge Act is on our key issues page. (https://publicaffairs.vpcomm.umich.edu/undocumented-students-at-u-m/)

    And an On the Agenda post from the president
    (http://president.umich.edu/news-communications/on-the-agenda/protecting-the-interests-of-our-international-community-of-scholars/)

    Please pass this information along to all pertinent parties-

    go blue-

  6. someone on facebook
    Posted January 30, 2017 at 11:58 am | Permalink

    EMU sent out an email about international students cautioning them about travel but still will not say if they will protect the identities as MSU and UofM have done. #ComeOnEMU

  7. EMU's official message
    Posted January 30, 2017 at 12:11 pm | Permalink

    To Students, Faculty and Staff:

    Eastern Michigan University proudly hosts nearly 700 international students representing 40 nations. It is Eastern’s mission to serve our international community of students and scholars in their unique educational and personal goals. We provide resources that foster a welcoming and supportive environment and offer programs that engage the EMU and local community in global awareness and learning.

    The University is currently assessing the impact of the executive order on immigration and monitoring developments closely. Given the current uncertainties surrounding re-entry to the United States, we are advising our international students and scholars from the seven designated countries to not travel outside of the United States, even to Canada. We recommend a careful review of all available information from the U.S. government before making the decision to travel abroad right now.

    The University will continue to support international students without regard to their immigration status. That status is among the areas protected under the University’s privacy policies, which follow all federal and state laws. The University does not provide information on a student’s immigration status to anyone, expect when required by law.

    The Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) provides comprehensive support for our international community. Additional information can be found on the OISS website.

    The Preamble to the Bylaws of the Board of Regents affirms the University’s overall commitment to our international community:

    The Board of Regents of Eastern Michigan University (the “Board” or “Board of Regents”) reaffirms its obligation to the people of the state of Michigan to provide high quality education to people from all walks of life. It pledges itself to the wisest use and distribution of resources at its disposal to meet this major objective. In keeping with this commitment, Eastern Michigan University will not discriminate against any person because of race, color, sex, marital status, age, religion, national origin or ancestry, Vietnam-era veteran status, non-relevant mental or physical disability, or any other protected status. Further, Eastern Michigan University does not discriminate against any person because of sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

    Eastern Michigan University is unwavering in our commitment to the safety and success of our international community. I would like to assure our international students and scholars that we will continue to review the impact of the executive order in the days ahead and will provide additional information and support as necessary.

    Further updates to our international community will be communicated directly from the Office of International Students and Scholars.

    James M. Smith, Ph.D.
    President
    Eastern Michigan University

  8. M
    Posted January 30, 2017 at 12:14 pm | Permalink

    He misspelled “except”.

    “The University does not provide information on a student’s immigration status to anyone, expect when required by law.” -James M. Smith

2 Trackbacks

  1. By Bannon grabs more power in the Trump White House on January 29, 2017 at 12:55 am

    […] « The University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel says U-M won’t be releasing the im… […]

  2. […] As we discussed last night, Trump’s clearly illegal ban on those entering the majority-Muslim nations, was odd in that not all majority-Muslim nations were included. While Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen made the list, several others, like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, did not… which is odd, given that’s where the 9/11 hijackers were from. Of course, as others have pointed out, Trump has economic interests in those countries, so maybe that went into the calculation. Regardless, it’s worth noting that this clearly has little do to with national security, which, come to think of it, is probably why, at the same time he signed this ban, Trump also removed the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from the National Security Council. [More on that in a minute.] No, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the conservative Brookings Institution Benjamin Wittes points out, this is all about giving Trump’s racist base the red meat that they crave, without thought as to the ramifications… Here’s a clip. […]

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