The international exchange and education community has been dealt yet another blow. The Trump administration has temporarily paused scheduling new F, M, and J visa appointments, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling for consular sections to “not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.” |
Texas leaders cannot keep legislating immigration policy from a place of political posturing and profound misunderstanding. Before drafting new laws—or undoing long-standing ones—they must first grasp the fundamentals of how our immigration system works and who it affects. |
“It’s clear that the Trump administration is out to get many Venezuelan people living in the U.S.–to strip them of status, deny them due process. We are a target despite the love we have for this country–the only place we can call home.” |
Last Wednesday evening, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting or limiting the entry of nationals from 19 countries, set to go into effect this Monday. The 12 countries with near-complete visa restrictions are Afghanistan; Burma; Chad; Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Haiti; Iran; Libya; Somalia; Sudan; and Yemen.
The ban has massive implications. In total, the 19 countries impacted have a combined population of 475 million people. All told, the proclamation has the potential to block tens of thousands of people annually from reuniting with family, coming to the U.S. to work, or simply visiting for pleasure.
This rapid analysis from the American Immigration Council explains the new ban, the Trump administration’s reasoning behind it, which countries are affected, and its potential ramifications.
Learn more: Analysis of Trump's New Travel Ban |
Last week, a federal judge in Texas blocked the Texas Dream Act, a law that has given certain undocumented college students access to in-state tuition since 2001.
The order came just hours after the Trump administration sued to block the tuition policy. Rather than fighting it, Texas agreed to settle the litigation by terminating the policy.
The latest development comes just days after the 89th Texas Legislature failed to repeal the law, despite nine separate bills filed this session seeking to do so.
Without the Dream Act, students who are undocumented now face significantly higher educational costs. This limits their access to higher education and affects their future opportunities, which will impact economic growth and prosperity for all Texans.
This Immigration Impact post explores the long-term benefits the Texas Dream Act has had on its recipients.
Read more: In-State Tuition Policies for Undocumented Students Change Lives. I Should Know—Mine Changed for the Better |
