Recent Immigration Actions and Travel Updates

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:49:40 -0400
diversityandinclusion, umbc, umbctogether

In recent weeks, there have been a series of developments related to immigration and international travel policies that affect our community. We wish to take this opportunity to provide an update, resources for those affected, and affirm our university value of welcoming inspiring and inquisitive minds from all backgrounds.

Recent Developments
We were heartened that the Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security could not dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which permits qualified people who arrived in the United States as children to work, study, and remain in the U.S. on a renewable permit. Our commitment to helping these students succeed is unchanged.

In addition, there have been a series of executive actions aimed at reducing access to the U.S. for international community members and their families. A Presidential Proclamation issued on June 22 prohibits those seeking H, J, and L visas from entering the U.S. with certain exceptions. International Education Services (IES) has compiled information regarding this and other relevant executive actions on its website and is available to answer specific questions from students, faculty, and staff. International students, faculty, and staff are an essential and treasured part of our UMBC community and we are looking forward to continuing that connection in the fall, even as the current pandemic is requiring physical distance between us.

Community Support
We know that this is a stressful time for those who are impacted by these decisions and we encourage you to seek support. IES will be hosting a virtual town hall on Monday, June 29, at 3 p.m. eastern for anyone in the UMBC community who would like more information about these decisions.

Students in need of emotional support are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center. Community members in need of a safe space for advocacy and relationship-building are encouraged to contact the Mosaic Center. Faculty and staff can access individual support through our Employee Assistance Program. If you feel you have been affected by racism, discrimination, or xenophobia, please know that the Office of Equity and Inclusion is available to support you.

Travel Updates
Given recent U.S. and foreign government policy actions regarding immigration matters, reduced availability of commercial flights, and the changing spread of the virus, ongoing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines will continue to make travel to and from other countries risky and difficult. Following guidance from the Governor, all University-related out-of-state travel for faculty, students, and staff is currently suspended. For safety purposes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend against all nonessential international travel. Considering all of these circumstances, we caution our community against personal international travel at this time in order to avoid problems with reentry.