St. John’s backs lawsuit challenging Trump threat to international students

Photo by zeuscgp/Wikimedia Commons

By David Brand

St. John’s University has joined an amicus brief in support of two elite universities suing to stop the Trump Administration from deporting international students. 

The plaintiffs, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have sued the federal government in federal court, where they seek an injunction to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement from deporting foreign students if their colleges close campuses for the fall semester. ICE announced the policy earlier this month.

"St. John’s University, a school with a founding and enduring mission to educate immigrants and their children, is a better place because we attract students from more than 100 countries around the globe seeking educational opportunities through the St. John’s experience,” said St. John’s President Conrado "Bobby" Gempesaw. “Our institution, our city, and our country are made better by the contributions of immigrants and international students. Our University remains committed to our international students and their success."

More than 180 college presidents have signed the amicus brief, which argues that the federal government is arbitrarily punishing international students and schools. 

Other higher education leaders in Queens have also denounced the new federal policy.

Queens College “has been made great and continues to thrive by welcoming people of the world to learn together,” said Queens College President Frank Wu Tuesday.

“All of Queens College's international students should know that the administration of this college stands with you and will do everything in our power to support you,” he continued. “Queens College will be following the guidance from the CUNY central office on how best to offer education during this challenging time.”

Wu made his statement after CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodríguez ripped the policy. 

“CUNY campuses have thousands of international students whose status is threatened by the new rule,” Matos Rodriguez said. “These students are a valuable and a vital part of our community.” 

He said CUNY would work with other institutions to jointly oppose the measure.

Queens State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, chair of the state Higher Education Committee, also weighed in against the abrupt policy change. She said the Trump Administration was using the threat of deporting international students “as leverage to force colleges and universities across the country to reopen their campuses, even if the institutions deem the decision premature.”

“Our foreign student population is vitally important to our colleges and universities. COVID-19 has placed enough unprecedented burdens on all our students, and these new regulations put our students from abroad at an unfair, unwarranted disadvantage,” she said. “Singling out our international students may stoke more unsubstantiated fears, furthering racial and cultural divides, and possibly putting American minorities in danger here at home.”