Statement - ICE policy change

July 8, 2020

Statement in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy change regarding international students

Eastern Michigan University takes great pride in being a welcoming environment for international students, as evidenced by the 100 light post banners around our campus and the large 80 foot mural celebrating "You Are Welcome Here" with images of international students and flags of their home nations. The recently announced policy change by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) runs counter to our efforts to support international students, who bring great diversity of thought, culture and perspective to our campus community and to our classrooms. We are proud to have them as part of our campus community. Eastern Michigan University is supportive of the growing national effort to stop this new policy and will continue to advocate strongly on behalf of international students at Eastern Michigan University and at colleges and universities across the nation.

James M. Smith, Ph.D.