Dear Members:
We are writing in the context of ongoing and rapid changes to the higher education and immigration landscapes. MESA’s Task Force on Civil and Human Rights is issuing this advisory to alert our membership to the probable consequences of recent Trump Administration policies (as of March 10, 2025) and to recommend appropriate steps for individuals and affiliates to take in response to these measures. We will continue to monitor, assess, and respond to these changes in support of MESA’s organizational mission and its membership.
We begin by condemning any new measures that will further restrict travel to the United States or affect current visa holders already inside the United States on the basis of national origin. MESA joined with partners and colleagues in bringing a legal challenge against the Muslim Travel Ban imposed in 2017 and will continue to protest and resist any such measures today. We equally condemn any actions taken against individual valid visa holders based on their expressive or associational activity. The U.S. Constitution should never be interpreted to allow viewpoint based discrimination by the government, let alone direct targeting of individuals for enforcement actions based on their holding views disfavored by a particular administration.
While the Task Force cannot and will not issue legal advice, our recommendations are based on past experience, media reports, shifting federal policies, and in consultation with civil liberties organizations.
Recent news reports indicate that the Trump Administration has begun revoking visas and/or detaining individuals in the United States who are on nonimmigrant visas or are permanent residents (green card holders) on the basis of their protected speech and associational activities.
- These actions are subject to legal challenge, and such challenges have already begun in the instances that we are aware of to date.
- It is unlikely that the Trump Administration currently has the resources to engage in individualized actions against large numbers of valid visa holders, but we consider it prudent at this time to recommend that non-citizen members currently in the United States identify competent immigration lawyers in their communities who might be willing to assist in their defense as needed.
- Many campuses may have resources, including legal clinics and chapters of the National Lawyers Guild present as part of the academic community. In other instances, local pro bono legal services providers may be willing to offer advice and referrals.
Recent news reports also suggest that the Trump Administration may implement a new travel ban (primarily targeting Muslim-majority countries, but possibly including other countries) as early as this week.
- We believe that any MESA member currently employed or studying in the U.S. who is a national of a Muslim-majority country likely to be included in a new travel ban (e.g., Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Palestine, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and others) should consider canceling any upcoming international travel.
- We also recommend that non-citizen MESA members employed in the U.S. and currently traveling outside of the country should consider returning to the United States as soon as possible.
- U.S. citizens have the right to enter the country, but the vetting process may be chaotic and unpredictable. Non-U.S. citizens may under some circumstances be denied re-entry, and currently pending policies might make the entry process more difficult.
We would like to remind members of the following resources available through the MESA website:
We will continue to closely follow shifting policies and provide updated information and guidance as they become available.