Updates

Chancellor's statements | Immigration | LGBTQ | - ALL -

On Jan. 31, 2020, the White House issued a presidential proclamation restricting travel into the U.S. for persons traveling from China who pose the risk of transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

On Jan. 31, 2020, the White House issued a presidential proclamation that expands the current travel ban to six new countries.

Although it appears that this proposed change to the enforcement of federal Title IX civil rights law is only at a preliminary stage, I want to take this opportunity to state unequivocally that we reject any reinterpretation of Title IX that results in the elimination of protections for transgender individuals, and we remain committed to fostering a campus climate that acknowledges the dignity of every member of our community.

On June 26, 2018 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the case of Trump v Hawaii, which sought to contest the most recent iteration of the administration’s travel ban on certain countries. The 5-4 Supreme Court decision ruled in favor of the current policy on the grounds that the President of the United States has the authority to enact such a policy. This Supreme Court ruling does not change or amend the current policy that has been in existence since September, 2017.

While the long-term future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program remains uncertain and is the focus of national debate, a federal court ruling has created an immediate opportunity for some individuals to pursue DACA renewals. The university strongly encourages eligible students and staff to act promptly. If needed, UMass Amherst will offer access to non-state funding through its donor-supported Angel Fund to aid their applications and pay for legal assistance.

On Dec. 4, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the most recent iteration of President Trump’s “Presidential Proclamation” (aka “Travel Ban 3.0”). This specific travel ban was officially called a “Presidential Proclamation” on Sept. 24, 2017, but it underscored similar and specific travel restrictions that began in January 2017 and continued through September 2017, and were frequently referred to as Executive Orders or Executive Actions.

In light of President Trump’s decision today to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA, which provides deportation relief for undocumented immigrants who came to this country as children, I want to reassure our entire campus community that my administration and I will do everything within our power to provide the support necessary for our most vulnerable students to pursue their educational advancement.

The United States Supreme Court issued an opinion on June 26 that allows parts of President Trump’s most recent Executive Order to go into effect. The Supreme Court will consider further actions on the case in October 2017.

UMass System immigration counsel Attorney Sandra Torres will host an information session for the UMass international community focusing on current U.S. immigration regulations and knowing your rights as a non-U.S. citizen.

Dear Senator Warren, Senator Markey, and Members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation:

We write to express our grave concerns about the recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announcement that it will temporarily suspend applications for expedited processing of H-1B visas as of April 3, 2017 for up to six months. Respectfully, we urge that you seek an exemption for our institutions, which are adversely affected by this suspension.

On Friday evening, March 3, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will temporarily suspend Premium Processing for all H-1B petitions effective April 3, 2017.

Our nondiscrimination policy includes “gender identity and expression,” and the university will continue to seek to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students, including trans students. We provide access to facilities and respect students’ pronouns and names consistent with their gender identity, even if their education records or identification documents indicate a different sex.

The UMass Amherst administration is committed to supporting all students, faculty and staff, regardless of their immigration status, and the campus has initiated a number of steps to safeguard members of our community.

Vital to that process is a campus task force that is coordinating responses to executive orders and changes in related federal policies. Today, I am announcing that this group will be chaired by John McCarthy, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School.

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