On January 31, 2020, Proclamation 9983 expanded the existing Travel Ban initiated by President Trump’s Executive Order 13780 and subsequent Proclamation 9645 in September 2017. This new proclamation places immigrant visa and entry restrictions on six additional countries effective February 21, 2020: Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. International students are considered non-immigrant visa types, and therefore not considered “restricted” by the new ban. The countries affected by the previous travel ban, which remain in effect, and in many cases do include both immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories, are Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia.
International students (F-1/J-1 visas), students with global backgrounds, and any Lawrence student who may be impacted by the recent or previous proclamations or the health-related travel restrictions to/from China, (referenced by Vice President Card in the email sent on February 5,) are encouraged to consult with Leah McSorley, Associate Dean of Students for International Student Services, prior to planning any travel outside of the United States. Additionally, free consultations provided by a local immigration attorney are available on February 14, 2020 and can be scheduled by contacting internationalhouse@lawrence.edu.
All students are encouraged to understand their constitutional rights while residing inside the United States. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) will be providing and educational presentation about the rights afforded by the U.S. constitution on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. in the Cinema. This event, sponsored by the Diversity and Intercultural Center and International Student Services, is free and open to the public.
Lawrence University is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from around the world. Lawrence does not discriminate based on citizenship status nor country of origin and is committed to providing an equitable education experience for all students. Our campus welcomes students with global backgrounds including those raised in the United States. Over 230 students representing 53 countries are members of the Lawrence community and we continue to value their presence and contributions to campus.
Sincerely,
Leah McSorely, Ed.D.
Associate Dean of Students for International Student Services
920-832-6509
leah.d.mcsorley@lawrence.edu
Curt Lauderdale
Dean of Students
920-832-6596
deanofstudents@lawrence.edu