"We all benefit from greater engagement, not less."

Washignton Square Arch

Like many of you, I was dismayed by this morning’s Supreme Court decision, upholding the Trump administration’s most recent iteration of its travel ban. Though on its face, the ban does permit citizens of most of the affected countries to continue to apply for student visas, in reality, reports suggest that the number of student visas issued to individuals from these countries have dropped over the past year. As we wrote in our amicus brief opposing the ban:

By obstructing the entry of international students, faculty and other scholars into the United States based solely on their having come from one of the Muslim- majority countries singled out for adverse treatment in the Proclamation — without any reason to believe that these individuals are involved in any terrorist activity — the Proclamation gratuitously and unlawfully encumbers NYU’s ability to conduct its many international programs, which rely on input from faculty and students from the affected countries. The Proclamation also impairs NYU’s ability to transmit its strongly-held values abroad, and obstructs its ability to provide to all of its students the educational benefits that flow from a fully diverse student body and faculty.

We all benefit from greater engagement, not less, and over the years, the United States has generated immeasurable good will by opening its doors to scholars from around the world. And I fear that the ban, as noted by Justice Sotomayor in her dissent (in which she cites our brief, as well as that of the American Council on Education), will have “deleterious effects on our higher education system.”

In light of the Court’s decision, should NYU students or scholars have any questions or concerns about their ability to enter or reside in the United States, they should contact the Office of Global Services.

In addition, members of the community (students, staff, and faculty) who wish to speak to an immigration attorney are advised to contact NYU Law’s Immigrant Defense Initiative.

Press Contact

John Beckman
John Beckman
(212) 998-6848