IGWC Protests against Visa Revocations; Meeting Pushes IU to Affirm Student Status

Last Thursday, over 300 graduate workers, staff, faculty, and community members protested the recent revocation of visas at IU, demanding that IU honor its commitment to these students and ensure them a pathway to degree.

In the midst of the protest, IU administration met with IGWC and Graduate and Professional Student Government leadership to coordinate protections for those unjustly impacted by the actions of the Department of Homeland Security both now and in the coming months.

In this meeting, IU administration committed to several important protections for international students unjustly impacted:

1. IU will not unenroll students when their Visa/SEVIS is revoked.
2. IU’s Office of International Services (OIS) will proactively check the SEVIS records daily, and reach out to impacted students immediately, as well as alerting the relevant departments and the Graduate School.
3. OIS will monitor and collect federal visa and immigration policy changes: global.iu.edu/resources/visa-immigration-updates.html
4. The Graduate School will work with departments to create a flexible pathway to degree for students impacted by these revocations, including easing travel requirements and allowing remote defenses. These details will vary on a case-by-case basis.
5. IU administration will clarify the differences between Visa revocations and the termination of a SEVIS record, which have different implications for the continuation of SAA work. Though it is not legal to continue work, IU will not automatically terminate employment for an impacted student—OIS will communicate details regarding work for pay to the student. Fellowships and awards, however, are not impacted by Visa/SEVIS status, and can continue to be dispersed.
6. IU agreed not to proactively provide information to the Department of Homeland Security.

In short, IU committed to proactively supporting students unjustly impacted by the actions of the Department of Homeland Security.

IU administration also clarified in the meeting and in subsequent meetings with Departments that the current Visa revocations have no clear pattern at IU. They are not tied to political activity and also don’t seem to be related to membership in IGWC in any way.

What are the next steps?

While IU has already responded to the collective action of students by ensuring a path to degree, it can still do more to support it’s international students.

• IU can create an Emergency Research Continuity Fellowship as well as waive tuition requirements to cover students who are impacted by these revocations. This does not violate visa restrictions, and could help ensure financial stability in an extremely distressing situation.
• IU can declare itself a sanctuary campus and refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agencies including DHS, ICE, and CBP. If IU is legally compelled to work with these agencies, it can notify students of the presence of these agencies on campus.

These actions would help ensure IU is a safe campus for everyone: graduate workers, staff, students, and faculty, regardless of their international status.

Graduate workers have already shown that we are willing to stand up for each other, and that solidarity won a massive victory for international students in a deeply uncertain time.