UNC Charlotte and UNC system statements regarding Executive Order on immigration

Monday, January 30, 2017

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware from developments of Friday, President Trump’s executive order on immigration, banning refugee admission into our country for 120 days and travel from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days has sparked considerable confusion and concern.

At the time of this message, a portion of the executive order has been blocked by four federal judges, while on the other hand, the Secretary of Homeland Security has been directed to consider additional countries from which entry by foreign nationals will be prohibited.

UNC Charlotte’s administration continues to monitor the unfolding interpretations of the president’s mandates.

The actions required by the executive order could affect students, faculty, and staff of the University who are traveling or who have plans to travel outside the United States.  The University strongly advises students, faculty and staff from those countries to refrain from travel outside the U.S. until more information is available.

We are not aware of any currently enrolled students, or members of our faculty or staff, who have been unable to enter the United States because of the executive order.

I want to take this opportunity to note some of the principles that guide our thoughts and actions that pertain to this situation:

  • UNC Charlotte’s promise of an international perspective is a paramount value in fulfilling our mission as North Carolina’s urban research university;
  • We will continue to advance a robust intellectual environment that values social and cultural diversity, free expression, collegiality, integrity, and mutual respect;
  • We value a safe, diverse, team-oriented, ethically responsible, and respectful workplace environment that develops the professional capacities of our faculty and staff;
  • The University will not provide information on the immigration status of our students or employees unless the law compels us to do so.

The International Students and Scholars Office has been reaching out to offer assistance and reassurance of our commitment to our students, faculty, and staff. If you have specific questions about the federal actions on immigration, please contact:

International Student and Scholar Office, Office of International Programs. The telephone number is 704-687-7781. 

Cordially,

Phil Dubois, Chancellor

 

Statement from the Office of the President, UNC system

On Friday, Jan. 27, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) limiting immigrant and non-immigrant visa holders from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen from entering the United States. The EO also directed the U.S. Secretary of State to suspend the refugee admission program for 120 days and to suspend all refugee processing of Syrian nationals. In response to the EO, the University of North Carolina issued the following statement:

“The University’s international students, distinguished researchers and faculty are valued and important members of our University community. While the exact impact of the Executive Order (EO) on our University community remains unclear, we have asked each of our constituent institutions to advise their students and employees who are nationals of the countries identified in the EO to refrain from traveling outside the country. We are continuing to monitor the situation, and we will keep our campus communities apprised of new information as it becomes available.”