The colleges and universities in Massachusetts double the instructions for international students in the course of the immigration authorities of the Trump administration.
Schools like the Emerson College, with and Boston University have advised international students to keep their immigration papers on them at any time.
“If it is not possible to wear your original documents in everyday life, you have sure that you always have access to paper or electronic copies of your documents,” the Emerson College published on its website at the beginning of this month.
Last week, Boston University reminded international students not to “maintain a complete course of the course of studies” and “not to exceed restrictions on campus employment restrictions”. The instructions also recommended the students to contact the university's police department if they were approached by a law enforcement officer from outside of the school.
The leaders of the university published the guidelines in response to the questions of the students to the recent instructions of the administration, said BU spokesman Colin Riley.
Other universities have pointed out the students to legal resources – or in the case of the Amherst College information sessions with immigration lawyers to answer the questions of the students.
While many of these recommendations underline the existing federal regulations, they reflect the current accused atmosphere on the College Campus in today's political landscape.
Since taking office last month, President Trump has granted a number of orders and instructions that refer to international students. This includes promise to revoke the visas of students who have participated in Pro-Palestinian rallies and increase the review of people who enter the country, as well as an earlier rule that lay schools and locations for the enforcement activities of immigration immigration.
According to spokeswoman Kenia Guerrero, the Alliance for Higher Education and Immigration of the President – a coalition of universities that work for international and migration background – has not heard cases of immigration enforcement on the campus.
Nevertheless, College leaders may not be able to prevent immigration officers from going to university property when campus is open to the public, according to the American Council on Education.
Massachusetts houses around 82,000 international students – such as a fifth of the state's state student body. It is estimated that about 1% have an undocumented status.
With the spring holiday around the corner for many universities, some international students have announced that they are rethinking their travel plans.
Junior Zoe Tianxiaoyue Zong, who from China, said she said she canceled a planned trip to Singapore because of the spring holidays after a professor had warned that she could have difficulty returning to the country. She now weighs whether she should stay in the USA over the summer break.
“It is only terrible to think for me that when I refuse from the USA, maybe I can't come back,” said Zong. “It feels like you are locked up in a country.”
“It is just terrible to think for me that I might not be able to come back if I reject the USA. It feels like you are locked up in a country. “
Zoe Tianxiaoyue Zong, Junior Emerson College
Michelle Gaeau, a spokesman for Emerson, said the instructions for the transfer of all immigration documents were “not new” and the civil servants “check this requirement during orientation and at other times”.
The school's website calmed down the students that some new orders from the Trump government – including those who refer to stricter border controls or tougher rules for visa applicants – are not enforced as written, especially if they have legal challenges.
“We recognize the emotional tribute that many of these executive actions could have to members of the International Community of Emerson and are committed to continuing to offer our students and alumni holistic support,” says his website.
The federal law requires adults over the age of 18 who do not come from the United States to have evidence of their lawful status. But Jessica Chicco, training director at the coalition of Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy, discourages news that suggests that the school or other managers “normalize … A society in which we think is okay that people are asked for documents on the street”.
“There is certainly no law that US citizens have to walk around with evidence of their citizenship,” said Chicco. “Under no circumstances do I go around with evidence of my citizenship.”
It can be safer to wear copies of immigration papers and passes instead of the originals so that they do not get lost, added Chicco.
And if an immigration officer questions a student according to his status, the student generally does not have to answer.
“There are many people who may not have a lawful status or many people who are US citizens who would not be able to provide these documents,” she said. “Here is the right to stay still and simply ask if you can go freely, really important.”