Following the Trump administration’s immigration-related executive actions, Massachusetts colleges and universities are stepping up their guidance to international students.
Schools such as Emerson College, MIT, and Boston University advised international students to keep their immigration paperwork with them at all times.
“If it is not possible to carry your original documents in your daily life, ensure that you always have access to paper or electronic copies of your documents,” Emerson College stated on its website earlier this month.
Last week, Boston University reminded international students to “maintain a full course load of study” and avoid exceeding “on-campus employment restrictions.” Students were also advised to contact the university’s police department if approached by a law enforcement officer outside the school.
University leaders issued the guidance in response to student inquiries about the administration’s recent executive orders, according to BU spokesman Colin Riley.
Other colleges have directed students to legal resources, or, as in the case of Amherst College, held information sessions with immigration attorneys to answer students’ questions.
While many of these recommendations reinforce existing federal regulations, they also reflect the charged atmosphere on college campuses in today’s political climate.
Since taking office last month, President Trump has issued a number of orders and directives pertaining to international students. They include promises to revoke the visas of students who attended pro-Palestinian rallies, to increase vetting of people entering the country, and to repeal an earlier rule that prohibited immigration enforcement activities on schools and campuses.
According to Kenia Guerrero, spokeswoman for the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a coalition of colleges that advocates for international and immigrant students, there have been no reports of immigration enforcement on campuses to date.
Nonetheless, college leaders may be unable to prevent immigration officials from entering university property when campuses are open to the public, according to the nonprofit organization American Council on Education.
Massachusetts has approximately 82,000 international students, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the state’s total student population. It is estimated that approximately 1% are undocumented.
With spring break approaching for many universities, some international students say they’re reconsidering their travel plans.
Emerson College junior Zoe Tianxiaoyue Zong, who is from China, said she canceled a planned trip to Singapore during spring break after a professor warned her that she might have difficulty returning to the country. She is now considering staying in the United States during her summer break.
“It’s just kind of horrifying for me to think that if I depart from the U.S., maybe I cannot come back,” says Zong. “It feels like being locked inside a country.”
Michelle Gaseau, an Emerson spokesperson, stated that the guidance to carry all immigration paperwork is “not new” and that officials “review this requirement during orientation and at other times.”
The school’s website reassured students that some new orders issued by the Trump administration, such as those relating to stricter border controls or stricter rules for visa applicants, may not be enforced as written, especially if legal challenges arise.
“We acknowledge the emotional toll that many of these executive actions may have on members of Emerson’s international community and are committed to providing continued holistic support to our students and alumni,” the school’s website states.
Adults over the age of 18 who are not citizens of the United States are required by federal law to carry documentation proving their legal status.
However, Jessica Chicco, director of training at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, advises against messaging that suggests school or other leaders “normalize… a society where we think it’s okay for people to be asked for documentation on the street.”
“There’s certainly no law that requires U.S. citizens to walk around with evidence of their citizenship,” Chicco told reporters. “I certainly don’t walk around with any evidence of my citizenship.”
Chicco added that carrying copies of immigration papers and passports rather than originals can be safer because they are less likely to be lost.
Chicco added that if an immigration officer questions a student about their status, the student is generally not required to respond.
“There are many people who may not have lawful status or many people who are U.S. citizens that would not be in a position to provide those documents,” according to her. “That’s where the right to remain silent and simply asking if you’re free to leave is really important.”