Recently, Trump signed an order proclaiming that nationals from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia cannot enter the United States as refugees because he doesn't feel their presence would be safe for the United States. His hopes are to keep terrorists out of the country to help protect Americans.
This order has created quite the uproar across the United States already. There have been a variety of protests, petitions and feedback from citizens of all races for our Muslim brothers and sisters. Universities have sent emails to their students ensuring they are doing all they can to provide for their students and support them regardless of where this order takes them.
The University of Illinois sent an email to all students saying:
"We ask that you join us in standing with those who are affected by the executive order. Together, we will defend the unfettered academic inquiry that is foundational to our intellectually diverse enterprise. Our institutional values demand nothing less of us. The marginalization of international faculty, students, staff, and visiting scholars diminishes us all. This we will not abide."
The university speaks to the fact, also, that there is much uncertainty remaining and that we must work together through this hard time. The students have been reassured, though, that they are welcome here and fully supported by the university. There has also been encouragement for these students to take caution if going to study abroad or maybe even pushing back their trip. At the college level, this order has impacted many students.
The protests here have only begun, though. I walked outside the English Building from my class this past Monday around 3:20 and there was a large group gathered in front of this building in the quad. It was full of students and teachers holding up signs and chanting "who's university?" "our university!". They formed a circle where a young Muslim girl spoke to the crowd. The more she announced into the megaphone, the more the crowd applauded and cheered for her in support. She told them she was not afraid and will not take away any part of her to make this country more "comfortable" for others. She explained immigrants are the backbone of America and that they are necessary for success in the United States. This protest walked the campus for the remainder of the day. I spotted a teacher who's sign read "I love my international students." There was love and determination through this unity I saw that day.
At the rate Trump is continuing, I do not think these protests or reminders of safety will stop anytime soon. We will have to see what will be the outcome of all this in the following weeks and months.
