{"id":3694,"date":"2020-06-09T12:57:27","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T12:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/?p=3694"},"modified":"2020-06-09T12:57:27","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T12:57:27","slug":"columbia-must-condemn-xenophobic-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/2020\/06\/09\/columbia-must-condemn-xenophobic-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbia Must Condemn Xenophobic Policies\/\u54e5\u5927\u5e94\u4ee5\u8c34\u8d23\u7279\u6717\u666e\u6392\u5916\u653f\u7b56"},"content":{"rendered":"

Columbia Must Condemn Xenophobic Policies<\/strong><\/p>\n

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent Presidential Proclamation<\/a> restricting and revoking student visas for some PRC nationals, and the proposed SECURE Campus Act<\/a> 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.<\/a> Any students who feel they may be affected by this proclamation should reach out to Graduate Workers of Columbia.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and the continued expansion of ICE\u2019s powers to cruelly and arbitrarily deport immigrants.<\/p>\n

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.<\/a>. The claim that Chinese students are likely to perform espionage for the Chinese government is not supported by any direct evidence<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>. Just as this administration blames domestic enemies such as anti-racist and Black protestors, it also is scapegoating Chinese students as a foreign threat.<\/p>\n

We join international students across the United States<\/a> in rejecting xenophobia in higher education. We request that Columbia immediately take the following actions:<\/p>\n