New ICE Directives Impact International Students

Dear Grinnellians,

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency recently announced major changes to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program that could severely, and sadly, limit the opportunities of international students to enroll in U.S. colleges and universities, and thwart the educational mission of U.S. higher education. We stand with our students in opposing these changes and commiserate with them on the possible loss of academic experiences and life-long relationships. 

I am proud of the immediate response of Grinnellians in support of our students and in search of solutions that will allow our students to continue pursuing their academic goals. Karen Edwards and her amazing team in our Office of International Affairs were immediately on the phone with our attorneys to better understand these rules, and are now working with partners to analyze the new directive to adapt our fall plans. They are actively reaching out to our international students to begin fielding questions, positing solutions, offering care and concern, and monitoring the legal developments of the pending legal challenge in a case filed today in federal court to block enforcement of the new rule.

Students, faculty, and staff have written to me to ask what we can do, and what they can do, to address this situation and assure that our international students can continue in their studies at Grinnell. I was particularly touched by a student who wrote and stated that he would give up his place in the fall invitations to campus to make room should an international student need to be on campus. Thank you all for your action, your creativity, and your care.

Global engagement and learning are crucial elements of a Grinnell education. International students make up nearly 20% of our student body. There is no way to quantify the amazing vitality and diverse perspectives that international students bring to our campus, our community, and our country as a whole. Working together, we will do our utmost to overcome these new challenges and to ensure that our international students know how much they are valued and supported. We want all Grinnellians to be assured that, now more than ever, global learning continues to be a core commitment of Grinnell College.

All the best,

Anne

Anne F. Harris
Acting President