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On January 27, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13769 which bars emigration from Muslim-majority countries such as Iran, Somalia and Yemen for around 90 days. This ban came as a scare to many members of the RIT community, as it was said to affect approximately 45 members of our student population.
“We’re working very hard to try to educate everybody so they know what the restrictions are, what the rules are,” RIT President Bill Destler explained. “For example, we’ve told our international students that this is not a good time to go home, because you might have trouble getting back in. These kinds of things we’re trying to make sure they understand what the situation is.”
Those affected include Mehdi Dehghani, a freshman who came from Iran to try to get his PhD, who might have to miss his family for the rest of his college career.
“So, as you might know, most of students visa are single entry type which means if you travel outside of United States like back home to visit your family, for coming back to U.S. you have to apply for a new visa and this process is so risky,” Dehghani explains. “We usually do not travel back home to visit our family, the only remaining option would be asking my parents to come here and visit me, but with this ban, this is not gonna happen. This means for getting my PhD, it is not possible for me to see my family in 5 years which is unbelievable.”
Students, however, were not the only ones concerned about the travel ban. Jefferey Cox, the director of International Student Services at RIT, states the following in regards to those affected:
“I was extremely concerned for our students and researchers (one of whom was travelling and was stuck outside the US for about a week) when the initial executive order was rolled out on a Friday night, causing chaos all weekend” Cox explained. “I was extremely disappointed in both the spirit of the travel ban and the way in which it was implemented—which was unlike anything I have seen in my 25 years of working with immigration relations.”
Federal courts are fighting against Trump’s ban and are doing so quite effectively, especially in the state of New York, through the case of Darweesh v. Trump. The case resulted in a stay order, prohibiting enforcement of the executive order until February 28th. However, we are still enforcing the same travel ban again as we initially were, as Trump has signed Executive Order 13780, which extends the ban from each country (minus Iraq) until June 16, 2017.
"I was relieved when it was appropriately put on hold by the courts on February 3rd,” Cox explained. “The newly revised ban signed on Monday, March 6th and taking effect on March 16th, is only slightly different in a few particulars, but the spirit of it is the same. As has been widely reported, the singling out of incoming visitors based solely on nationality is not a valuable tool to increase safety.”
With the ban extended and the removal of Iraq from the list of countries with barred emigration into the United States, the ban will still affect roughly 75% of those affected whilst having the same effect on the campus in general.
“RIT had 45 students, plus one researcher who were affected by the initial travel ban. With the removal of Iraq and some other records updating, we have now determined that we have 32 students, plus one researcher, who will continue to be impacted under the revised travel ban,” Cox explained. “The students are allowed to stay and continue studying, but if their visas have expired or are single-entry visas, we are advising them not to travel outside the U.S. because we are concerned that they would not be allowed to re-enter.”
The 32 students and researcher affected by this situation may have to assess the situation they are currently in and plan ahead through this tough time.
“There is nothing I can do except staying calm and not thinking about this situation, and hoping everything will get better soon,” Dehghani explained. “I am still not sure if it is worth it to study in U.S. by paying for not visiting your family, what do you think? My friends who are studying in Canada and Europe go home every single semester and the best I can do is facetime with my parents.”
While this small group of students and one researcher will still be affected by Trump’s ban, the officials over at RIT wants to reassure that everyone, no matter where they come from or how they got here, is always welcome throughout the campus.
“from wherever they come,” President Destler explains,” I think they add richly to the diversity to our community. We don’t want them to feel like they’re not welcome here.”
Various events throughout the campus made the former clearly evident. On March 30, 2017, RIT’s Center for Religious Live, College of Liberal Arts, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures and Muslim Student Association presented a screening of the film The Muslims I Know.
“The purpose of the screening in 2017, much like a previous screening in 2008, is to try and have a conversation between Muslims and non-Muslims on this situation,” Mara Ahmed, director of the film, explains. “In terms of what’s happening with the travel ban, it’s something that’s very worrisome, every Muslim that I know was talking about it. This is a very terrifying time for Muslims.”
“I helped bring her here, but I have never seen the film,” Paulette Schwartzfager, lecturer and event attendee, explains. “I am really inspired by the film and I learned. I thought I knew a lot, but I learned more and I especially liked all the questions the people asked. I liked that she stayed for a long time to do that and I also liked that the Muslim students also answered the questions. It’s hard for me to imagine that I would have to answer questions for all Christians everywhere.”
The ban remains in effect until June 16, 2017, 24 days after the 2016-2017 spring semester ends at RIT, but it will only be a temporary amount of time after the semester before the ban is lifted.
“I believe nothing would last forever,” Dehghani says, “this situation will change and the sky will be sunny again. Do not give up on your dreams, be positive and remember, it always tastes better when you earn something in a hard way, you can just sit and enjoy that.”
LIST OF SOURCES
Bill Destler, Campus President.
(585) 475-2396
George Eastman Building, 7th floor.
Jefferey Cox, Director of International Student Services
(585) 475-6945
Student Alumni Union, room 2336
Mara Ahmed, Director of The Muslims I Know.
Paulette Schwartzfager, lecturer
(585) 475-5415
College of Liberal Arts, room A104
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