In the wake of the Trump administration’s new executive order on immigration, Stanford is reminding all community members to register their international travel plans with the University so that the school can contact them if needed over spring break.
Those who will go abroad either for personal or University-related reasons can report their plans at an online International Travel Tracker. A February newsletter from Bechtel International Center also urged community members traveling either domestically or internationally to ensure they have visa documents on hand. According to Bechtel, a Stanford international student was recently detained for multiple hours in San Diego near the Mexican border because the student was not carrying immigration documents.
These latest travel reminders are part of Stanford’s efforts to keep students informed amid uncertainty over immigration rules as the White House renews its efforts to block immigration from several predominantly Muslim countries. While a January executive order aimed at seven countries was quickly blocked by a federal judge, Trump signed a revised version of the order on Monday that will suspend immigration — for those who do not already hold visas — from all countries originally targeted except Iraq.
Hadil Mansoor Al-Mowafak ’20, a Stanford student from Yemen, was among several Bay Area students who filed a lawsuit against Trump decrying the first executive order as unconstitutional. The University has also taken legal action: In February, Stanford joined 16 other universities to file an amicus brief against the travel ban.
Meanwhile, Stanford’s international community has had to grapple with new policies that could affect their ability to return home, engage in activities abroad or continue their studies at Stanford. The University has sought to help affected students, faculty and staff by holding legal clinics and coordinating pro bono legal counsel.
Resources for travelers are available online from Stanford’s Travel Guidance. Those abroad on Stanford-related trips can find additional information from the University’s International Travel Assistance Program.
Contact Hannah Knowles at hknowles ‘at’ stanford.edu.