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Miami Valley International Students Prepare For Changes Under Latest Travel Ban

Harrison Hall at Miami University.
Public Domain File:Muohioharrison.jpg
Harrison Hall at Miami University.

Some Miami Valley college officials say they’re working to support international students affected by the Trump administration travel ban, advising them to evaluate their study plans before the fall semester begins.

The Supreme Court recently upheld by a 5-4 vote the ban for residents from seven countries, most with Muslim majorities.  

The travel ban -- the third iteration, after two previous versions didn't hold up to legal challenges -- indefinitely blocks immigration visas for nearly all people from seven countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela. The order allows for some exceptions for student visa applicants under certain conditions.

Read comprehensive coverage of the order at NPR News

Numbers from the University of Dayton, Miami University and Wright State University show the schools each have between 20 and 30 current or prospective students from the affected countries.

Molly Heideman, Miami University’s associate director of international student and scholar services department, cautions travel could be risky for students from travel ban countries who are already in the United States and are seeking to study abroad or travel home for breaks.

“If they were to travel they could have difficulty obtaining a new visa when they come back or have difficulty entering the U.S. So, we would probably recommend if they are considering traveling to speak with an immigration attorney first,” Heideman says.

Under the order, people from most of the affected countries are allowed to apply for student visas to come to the U.S., but they will likely face extra scrutiny.

She says no applications are currently being accepted from Syria.

Heideman says having international students at American universities brings in diversity and global perspectives.

“We love having our international students here so we want them to be able to come and stay and study and also to be able to travel freely,” she says. “So, we’re trying to support them the best that we can in light of this executive order."

Miami officials report 11 actively enrolled students from countries included in the travel ban, and another 10 who have been admitted for the fall semester.

University of Dayton officials told WYSO they're working to assist international students who may be affected by the ban, saying in a statement:

"We are connecting with approximately 30 current and prospective students who are affected by the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding restrictions on immigration and travel to listen to their concerns and get more details on what they may be facing in the weeks and months ahead. As a University, we are committed to supporting all affected members of the campus community to the best of our ability through a variety of campus services." 

At Wright State University during the spring semester, says Michelle Streeter-Ferrari, director of the University Center for International Education, WSU had 21 students from the affected countries, including two from Venezuela, one from Syria, 13 from Iran and five from Libya.

For the upcoming fall semester, "since students are on a student visa, they should be allowed to enter, however, we do caution students against traveling abroad if they are from one of the mentioned countries," she told WYSO.

Wright State is directing international students to a dedicated resource webpage:

https://www.wright.edu/international-education/resources.