Chancellor Kent Syverud signaled support on Monday for students affected by Donald Trump’s recent executive order banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Syverud’s comments came after more than 260 Syracuse University faculty and students signed a document calling on him to speak out against the order.

In a letter sent to the SU community on Monday, Syverud did not outwardly oppose the ban, but instead listed resources for members of the community who have been affected.

Trump’s order, signed on Friday, prevents people from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the country for the next 90 days, and all refugee admissions for 120 days. This order also includes those with student visas.

“The teaching, learning, and discovery that we do every day involves people from more than 150 countries — and it occurs at Syracuse University programs and facilities across the United States and around the world,” Syverud said in the letter. “Our work and our contributions are made possible by people from everywhere, including the seven countries specifically identified in the executive orders.”

Tony Callisto, senior vice president for safety and chief law enforcement officer, said in a statement to the SU community on Monday that the Department of Public Safety neither inquires about immigration status of individuals on campus nor assists federal officials in immigration investigations or raids.

Callisto’s response comes after various groups on campus — including the Graduate Student Organization — have called for Syverud to name SU a sanctuary campus.

Fifty Syracuse University students were advised not to travel outside of the U.S. because of the ban, including 30 graduate students from Iran.

Syverud listed contact information for those affected by the ban to reach out to for assistance. He has also asked Provost Michele Wheatly to “promptly evaluate and report on how we can improve our responsiveness on this score to students impacted by changing immigration laws.”

On Sunday, hundreds of people showed up at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport to protest the ban, including Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner. The order has sparked other protests across the country.

Published on January 30, 2017 at 5:03 pm

Contact Haley: hykim100@syr.edu