Columbia Must Condemn Xenophobic Policies

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent Presidential Proclamation restricting and revoking student visas for some PRC nationals, and the proposed SECURE Campus Act which expands these restrictions to all STEM fields. While the impact of the Presidential Proclamation will only become clear once the Department of State has issued its interpretation, the University of California has already released an analysis of its likely effects here. Any students who feel they may be affected by this proclamation should reach out to Graduate Workers of Columbia.

It is clear that these xenophobic policies target international students and workers and must be fought at every level. Prior to the May 29 proclamation, Chinese STEM students already faced discriminatory one-year limits on visa period. Many students were stranded for years in the United States during their studies, unable to return home to visit family or friends for fear of being arbitrarily denied visa renewals or barred re-entry. These immigration policies are part of a xenophobic effort, which also includes the recent suspension of immigrant visas and the continued expansion of ICE’s powers to cruelly and arbitrarily deport immigrants.

International students and scholars form an integral part of our unit and our broader community. We are all co-workers, neighbors, labmates, classmates, advisors, instructors, and more to each other. This current wave of legislation fuels a new Cold War. and relies on racist stereotypes about Chinese people as dangerous foreigners that have already been worsened by COVID-19 anti-Asian racism.. The claim that Chinese students are likely to perform espionage for the Chinese government is not supported by any direct evidence.

These attacks also coincide with a continuous effort to dismantle Optional Practical Training and other forms of post-graduation employment. As the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students points out, these policies cannot be justified on economic or educational grounds. Just as this administration blames domestic enemies such as anti-racist and Black protestors, it also is scapegoating Chinese students as a foreign threat.

We join international students across the United States in rejecting xenophobia in higher education. We request that Columbia immediately take the following actions:

  • Immediately issue a statement opposing the recent Presidential Proclamation and the SECURE Campus Act.
  • Provide legal support to international and immigrant students, for example by reimbursing legal expenses or providing access to information sessions with lawyers or organizing an immigration law clinic.
  • Develop and publicize a contingency plan for expected further changes in immigration policy, including the restriction or cancellation of Optional Practical Training.
  • Do not volunteer student information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other law enforcement agencies without a warrant or court order. Train relevant staff to handle requests and visits from immigration and law enforcement in a way that protects international students.
  • Establish a university-wide emergency relief fund to mitigate immigration and visa expenses, including expenses caused by unexpected changes in immigration policy, especially for those who do not qualify for stimulus checks and unemployment benefits.
  • Lobby actively and transparently for international and immigrant students through advocacy organizations such as the President’s Alliance for Immigration and Higher Education and NAFSA.
  • Form on-campus committees that include international and immigrant students and workers and actively solicit feedback from them.
  • Set up an appointment system, in person and over the phone, that international students and scholars (from multiple time zones) can access to have questions answered.

Many of our demands have already been stated in our cross-campus, cross-union petition, “Support International and Immigrant Students and Workers.” Columbia’s mission statement notes that it “seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions.” Our demands advance these goals. They have been consistently put forward in ISWG meetings with ISSO staff, but we have received no action or meaningful response.

Without taking real, meaningful action to support international and immigrant students and workers, including Chinese STEM students who have been targeted by these racist and xenophobic policies, Columbia is failing in this stated mission.

哥大应以谴责特朗普排外政策

哥大研博工会强烈谴责近期限制以及取消某些中国国际学生签证的总统公告，以及近期提出的试图将公告范围扩大到所有从事科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域的学习或研究的中国学生的“安全校园法”。虽然在国务卿颁布法律解释前难以判定此次总统公告的具体影响，加州大学已公布对于公告执法范围的法律分析。我们鼓励因此公告遇到问题的学生联系哥大工会。

这些特意瞄准了国际学生雇员的政策显然是基于种族歧视与排外情绪，我们应该全力抵抗。在5月29日的公告前，中国留美STEM学生申请签证已经要面对歧视性的一年期限。由于对于续签被拒或者入境受阻的担忧，许多国际学生读书期间长期困于美国、无法回国探亲访友。正如近期无理暂停移民签证的签发，以及美国移民及海关执法局（ICE）逮捕驱逐法权的不断扩大，这些移民规定皆构成现任政府的排外政治趋势的一部分。

国际学生与学者既是我们工会谈判单元的成员，又是我们广大社区的不可缺少的一部分。我们彼此都是同事、邻居、师生、朋友等等。这些政策不仅向中美新冷战火上浇油，还加深了随着疫情爆发而日益恶化的视华人为异己族群的歧视成见。不仅如此，美国官员承认不掌握任何直接证据证明中国国际学生可能为中国政府从事间谍行为。

与此同时，美国的OPT专业实习政策和其他形式的毕业后就业项目正在受到攻击。全国研究生专业生协会（NAGPS）指出，这些提议从经济或教育角度来讲是不合理的。它们背后的最终动因是种族主义。 本届政府对内将反种族歧视的群体以及黑人社群树立为敌人，对外将中国学生树立为境外敌对势力以作为替罪羊，这背后都贯穿着相似的以种族歧视遮蔽视听的逻辑。

我们与全美的国际学生一道抗议在高等教育体系中的仇外情绪。我们要求哥伦比亚校方尽快采取如下措施：

  • 迅速发布生命反对近期的总统令以及安全校园法案
  • 为国际学生以及新移民学生提供法律救助，例如报销法律费用或者为学生提供律师咨询会或者组织移民入境法律诊所。
  • 起草并发布针对近期移民政策的应急计划，包括限制或取消OPT的政策的应对。
  • 不主动向美国移民及海关执法局（ICE）或者其他执法机构提供学生信息，除非对方出示搜查令或法庭命令。训练相关工作人员在处理移民或执法队伍的要求时，保护国际学生。
  • 建立起全校紧急救助金来缓解学生因为入境以及签证费用压力（包括因入境政策的变化带来的额外费用），尤其优先无法获得联邦救助金及失业保障的人士。
  • 利用类似高等教育与移民校长联盟以及NAFSA等游说组织，积极透明地为国际学生以及新移民学生争取权益。
  • 建立包含国际学生及新移民学生/工人的校园委员会并积极寻求学生/工人的反馈。
  • 建立起或当面或电话的预约系统，以便在不同时区的国际学生和学者能够实时【就有关政策？】进行咨询。

我们的许多要求早已公布于一份跨工会跨校园的请愿书，“支持国际与移民学生与雇员”。然而，据其使命宣言，哥大承诺 “力图吸引多元国际的学生与学者、支持关于全球问题的研究与教育、以及与多数国家区域建立学术关系。” 虽然上列的要求已在国际学生工作小组（ISWG)与校方的会议中已被多次提出，可是到此为止，我们还没有见到任何行动或者得到任何有意义的回复。

若哥大在国际学生雇员权益上（包括受到排华政策影响的中国STEM学生在内）继续保持沉默、，不采取实质性措施支持国际学生雇员，哥大炫示于网站主页的这个使命只是一纸空文。

ISWG將于6月18日10时(东岸时间)举行一次关于疫情期间移民政策对国际学生的影响的信息会，欢迎您参与此次活动提问或分享经验。预知详情请点击此链接。此外，跨校园国际学生联盟IISWA将于6月15日举行一次关于国际学生组织工作的讨论会，详情见此链接。