The Office for International Students and Scholars sent an email Friday urging international students to return to the U.S. before June 9. The email follows a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump last week that bans citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States and imposes heightened restrictions on seven others.
The proclamation is the latest in a series of setbacks for MSU’s international students. In April, students faced uncertainty as visas were suddenly revoked before being restored later that month. The new travel ban is expected to directly impact MSU’s international student and scholar population.
The new travel restrictions, which go into effect Monday at 12:01 a.m. EST, mark the second time since Trump’s first term in 2017 where a ban has been enacted.
The 12 countries banned outright include: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Stricter visa requirements have also been placed on individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and do not currently hold a valid visa.
"MSU has more than 225 current and admitted students, scholars and recent graduates that may be impacted by the travel ban and restrictions," university spokesperson Mark Bullion said in an email to The State News. "In the interest of privacy, we are unable to share a breakdown of those individuals by country."
In the email obtained by The State News, the Office for International Students and Scholars informed students of the proclamation and said it had been consulting with immigration experts and peer institutions to assess its impact.
"For citizens of countries listed in the proclamation: If you are currently in the U.S., we strongly advise against international travel," the email read. "If you are currently outside of the U.S. and can return to the U.S. before June 9, we urge you to do so."
The warning comes a week after OISS sent an email to international students urging them to not travel outside of the U.S. after reports that the U.S. Department of State has temporarily suspended visa interviews for international students and scholars intending to study in the United States.
The email continues to explain that although the proclamation indicates exceptions for valid visa holders, there is still a high risk that citizens of the affected countries will not be allowed to enter the U.S. once the restrictions take effect on Monday.
Toward the end of the email, OISS assured international students that they are welcomed, wanted and appreciated at MSU, urging those in need and with questions to contact their designated OISS advisor.
OISS Director Krista Beatty and Assistant Director Ismail Adawe did not respond to The State News’ requests for comment at the time of publication.
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