The American Council on Education recently released an updated version of its issue brief on immigration. The brief provides “updated information relevant to current and potential immigration-related concerns and other issues facing international students, scholars, and staff, including legal and nonlegal resources to guide campuses as immigration policies and trends develop.”
The brief covers major categories of immigration in the U.S. system that may impact higher education campus communities, such as nonimmigrant visa holders, temporary protected status (TPS), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA). It also identifies immigration-related issues relevant to international students, faculty, and staff, including travel bans, adjudication pauses, visa applicant social media vetting, H-1B visa petition fees, and student visa revocations, among others.
The brief provides insights into potential enforcement actions on campus and how higher education institutions can prepare for such actions. It also provides resources and guidance on higher education institutions’ obligations under federal law. The issue brief is a valuable resource for institutions. That said, as the brief itself cautions, “campuses should review their privacy and compliance policies, consult with their legal counsel, and remain attentive to updates from ACE and other higher education organizations as immigration policy continues to evolve.”