A University of Rochester official says a number of students and staff are expressing concerns about the recent presidential orders regarding immigration.
Jane Gatewood is the U of R's Vice President for Global Engagement, and she says there are particular concerns among international students who may be impacted by any travel ban.
“The general concerns range around, (questions like) ‘Well, you know I need to interview for a job and that requires me to leave the country, how do you do that ? (or) ‘What if my mother is ill, what if I need to go home and visit her?”
Gatewood says the new immigration directive also concerns some researchers who may need to leave the U.S. if they have to attend an international conference.
Gatewood says staff is trying to advise international students who may be impacted, but she says how they handle their own situation is their responsibility
“Their individual visa status is up for their own stewardship, so they have to make those decisions. We are advising them that they may not be able to re-enter. We’re giving them the information to make an informed decision and we’re supporting them in those decisions that they make.”
The U of R is holding an informational meeting Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. at the Interfaith Chapel.
Over the weekend, RIT officials also put out a statement saying it has advised students listed in the new executive order for not making any travel plans to leave the U.S. for the next 30 days.
