Supporting International Scholars: A Call for Fairness and Justice
For 76 years, FIUTS has worked to connect international students and scholars with our community, fostering understanding, friendship, and the exchange of ideas. Recent detentions and deportations of international students and scholars in the U.S. raise serious concerns about civil liberties, due process, and academic freedom, and cause stress for international students and scholars and their families. More than a dozen students and scholars have been detained in the past ten days alone.
International students and scholars come to the U.S. to learn, teach, and contribute to research and innovation. The ability to express ideas freely, engage in open dialogue, and feel safe in academic spaces is essential to education and democracy. Actions that detain or deport individuals based on their political beliefs or national origin undermine these principles and raise questions about fairness and the rule of law.
These actions violate the values the United States of America is supposed to stand for, including free speech, fairness, and academic freedom. The U.S. Constitution protects the right to express opinions without fear and guarantees fair treatment under the law. If the government can silence and remove people without following the rules, who will be next?
This isn’t the first time students and scholars have been punished for speaking out. From Vietnam War protests to the post-9/11 targeting of Muslim and Arab students, history shows that dissent is frequently met with attempts to silence it. Today, international students and scholars are being detained and deported for their beliefs, and it’s happening on our watch.
Ways to Support International Scholars and Students
There are meaningful ways to stand up for civil liberties and support international students and scholars:
Welcome international students and scholars to our region by attending FIUTS CulturalFest or another FIUTS event or by signing up to host - helping them build connections and feel a sense of belonging.
Contribute to FIUTS or other organizations that provide support for international students or that advocate for civil rights and academic freedom.
Engage with policymakers by writing or calling your representatives to express concerns about due process and protection for international scholars. Find them here.
Students: Be mindful and supportive of your international student friends and classmates. If you witness or experience discrimination or prejudice against international students, speak out and report it to the appropriate authorities.
Foster open dialogue by engaging with people of different backgrounds and perspectives with respect and curiosity.
FIUTS remains committed to upholding the values of international exchange, education, and the protection of civil liberties. We encourage our community to join us in ensuring that scholars and students from around the world continue to have a place in our classrooms, research institutions, and communities.