Tripathi responds to executive order suspending entry to U.S. by citizens of seven countries

President Satish K. Tripathi issued a statement on Saturday regarding President Trump’s executive order of Jan. 27 that temporarily suspends entry to the U.S. by citizens of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Tripathi's statement said the university “stands ready” to support members of the university community who may be affected by current and pending executive orders affecting immigration law.

“The university is assessing the executive order and is actively monitoring the order’s potential impact on UB students, faculty, staff and visiting scholars who are from countries cited in the order,” Tripathi said.

The full statement is available here. Tripathi said the university community will be updated as the situation evolves and the impacts become clearer.

“Despite current and pending executive actions affecting access to the U.S. by persons from designated countries, UB is a welcoming campus for students, faculty and visitors from across the globe, and is committed to remaining so,” he said.

UB's offices of International Student and Scholar Services and Immigration Services are monitoring the situation closely and are leading the university’s efforts to contact and support those from the university community who are impacted by the executive order. They will provide guidance and updates to the university over the next several days as the situation becomes clearer.

International Student and Scholar Services sent a notice Sunday to UB’s international students advising them not to travel outside the U.S., including crossing into Canada, until there is further clarification from the office. “We hope that UB students have not been affected, but fear that may not be the case,” the notice said. “If you are from one of the affected countries, please respond and let us know your situation.” 

UB has 122 students from five of the seven countries affected by the executive order. There are 20 faculty members, researchers, visiting scholars and staff from the countries.

Tripathi noted the privacy of student educational records is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and emphasized that University Police does not and shall not routinely inquire about the immigration status of students, faculty, staff or visitors to campus unless there has been an arrest.

“It is important to keep in mind the valuable and far-reaching contributions our international students, faculty and staff make to UB’s research, education and engagement missions,” he said. “UB’s international community benefits all of us, enhancing the diversity of our community, our global learning opportunities and the richness of our cultural and intellectual life.”