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Dear Members of the Puget Sound Community,

With continuing news about student visa revocations and detentions, as well as stories about international scholars facing challenges in crossing U.S. borders, we know that many in our community may be feeling some stress or apprehension, whether for themselves, family, friends, or colleagues.

We are monitoring these issues closely and consulting with our professional organizations and experts for guidance. As always, we are here to support all members of our community, and we will do our best to provide advice and assistance. The Office of International Programs has been in contact with all students holding F-1 visas, and the Offices of Human Resources and the Provost will be reaching out to international faculty and staff next week.

As the end of the semester approaches, considerations around international travel are especially important, whether visiting home, studying abroad, vacationing, or attending professional conferences. International members of the Logger community (F-1/J-1/H-1B/Green Card holders) may want to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of traveling internationally, and if uncomfortable, consider remaining in the United States.

We are aware of the following reasons some may wish to reconsider international travel at this time:

1. There is the possibility of “Travel Bans” being enacted which could prevent visa holders from certain countries being granted re-entry to the U.S.
2. A that they will consider certain activities on social media and physical harassment as valid reasons to deny immigration benefit requests. A broad interpretation of this, and other indicators, could mean that social media posts regarding politically sensitive content and records of physical presence at protests could be misinterpreted by immigration authorities and scrutinized during visa applications, immigration benefit applications, border screenings, Green Card applications, and more.
3. a visa holder each time the person presents their immigration documents and seeks admission to the country. CBP has the authority to search a person’s electronic devices during their inspection.

If you are an international student, staff, or faculty member and you experience any immigration issues while traveling internationally, you may contact Campus Security (+1-253-879-3311) 24/7. They, in turn, will contact the Director of International Programs (for students on F-1 visas), Vice President of Student Affairs (for all other students), the Provost (for faculty), or the Chief People Officer (for staff).

Given the considerations listed above, you may wish to consult with an immigration lawyer in order to determine the advisability of international travel. You should also immediately consult with a skilled immigration lawyer if you receive any indication that your visa or immigration status is in jeopardy. The following resources may be helpful to you if you do not already have a relationship with a lawyer:

• : Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.
• : Provides resources for individuals to connect with and find an attorney that is right for their situation.
• : (Informed Immigrant) This guide provides information on how to find a good immigration lawyer, where to find one, how to prepare to meet with a lawyer, and how to avoid fraud.
• : (Informed Immigrant) Find legal providers, social workers, community organizers and others by zip code.
• : (National Immigration Project) National Immigration Project attorney search network by state.
• : (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Find legal providers by state.
• : (iAmerica) Find legal providers by zip code.
• : (National Immigration Law Center) You can search for immigration legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory.

Finally, please note that there may be an increase of scam calls and emails related to immigration status targeting international students and scholars. To be better prepared to recognize scams and to ensure you know how to exercise your rights in interactions with immigration authorities while you are in the U.S., we recommend reviewing the informational resources on our Know Your Rights website.

If you have questions, please reach out. International students can contact the Office of International Programs (internationalprograms@pugetsound.edu), and international staff and faculty can contact Human Resources (hr@pugetsound.edu). We will do our very best to help you find answers using the resources we have available.

Sincerely,

Drew Kerkhoff, Provost
Sarah Comstock, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Nancy Nieraeth, Chief People Officer
Eowyn Greeno, Director of International Programs