Carry proof of status at all times, U of A tells international students

The University of Arizona is asking international students, faculty and scholars to carry their passports, I-94s and proof of status with them at all times, and to be prepared to allow immigration officials to inspect their mobile devices, including their social media posts.

I-94s are documents issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to non-immigrant visitors entering the United States, confirming their legal admission and authorized period of stay.

“Here are some important reminders to help you stay in compliance with immigration regulations and ensure a smooth stay while you’re in the United States,” says the email sent Monday by UA’s International Student Services and International Faculty and Scholars Services.

The email comes in the face of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, including on university campuses.

The message lists five key pointers on how students and faculty can be vigilant and prepared for immigration enforcement or regulation changes, including: checking their emails regularly for updates; keeping immigration documents accessible and on them; knowing domestic and international travel guidelines; and being aware “devices and social media” can be inspected.

“Officers may ask to inspect your devices. This is legally permitted. Refusal could result in delays or your device being held,” the email says.

It also says to “stay alert for possible travel bans.” Soon after President Donald Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, he issued a ban on immigrants and non-immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the U.S., which affected thousands of students.

When asked Tuesday if students have reason to be vigilant or concerned when they are on campus for classes or part-time jobs, UA spokesperson Mitch Zak said international students and scholars are encouraged to contact ISS or IFS with any questions. “University staff are available to support their success and compliance,” he said, but did not give specifics on how they will do so.

The Trump administration, since being sworn in Jan. 20, has pushed out numerous executive orders and notices on immigration, including: “combatting anti-Semitism“ by deporting non-citizen students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests; “enhanced vetting” or stricter evaluation of visa applicants as well as visa holders already in the country; and much more.

Universities have expressed concern about declining international student enrollments due to the immigration crackdown.

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In recent weeks, immigration agents have visited universities, including Georgetown, Cornell, Tufts and Columbia, to arrest and possibly deport non-citizen international students who took part in the pro-Palestinian protests that broke out on campuses across the country last year during the height of the Israel-Gaza war.

UA Chair of the Faculty Leila Hudson said the email is a “sobering reminder” that the U.S. and its universities in particular are entering “uncharted waters,” and that the current rapidly-changing policies and practices require information sharing of this kind at the least.

“Seeing Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia and Rumeysa Öztürk at Tufts apprehended by plainclothes ICE officers and incarcerated in Louisiana without any pretense of due process was the moment for panic, and not just for our international students,” said Hudson Tuesday.

“Now we must use our reason and goodwill to help people make informed decisions,” she said. “I recently read that international students contribute $44 billion a year to the U.S. economy, but more importantly, when they accepted U.S. visas and educational opportunities, not a single one of them would have expected to find themselves vulnerable to tactics of disappearance and deportation that the U.S. government has historically loudly criticized in Russia, China, or Iran.”

Adriana Grijalva, president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, said the UA email provides “a sense of support during uncertain times.”

“While it’s essential to keep people informed, there’s a risk it could cause anxiety,” Grijalva said. “I want students to know that there is support if they need it and that we are here to help them navigate any challenges that may occur.”

The emails link to websites, including the IFS announcement page, the ISS announcement page, and the U.S. State Department’s federal travel advisories page. The two UA announcement pages are only accessible with university ID.

Johann Rafelski, a UA professor of physics and an immigrant from Germany, said the most striking thing about the UA websites is that there aren’t many messages there besides one before Jan. 22 with a heads-up on forthcoming changes in policies, and another from former UA President Robert C. Robbins on Oct. 9, 2023, expressing compassion and support for students and employees from Israel and Gaza.