Guidance Regarding Presidential Order on Travel to the United States
Dear UMB Community,
A presidential executive order restricting travel to the United States by foreign nationals from 19 countries is causing great concern for many in the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community. We write to offer guidance and heartfelt support for the students, faculty, staff, and their families who are directly affected by the order. We are closely monitoring the situation and providing targeted support to those who might need it most.
First, the facts. The order fully suspends entry to the United States by nationals of 12 countries: Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar (Burma), Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In addition, entry is banned for those holding student, exchange visitor, business, or tourist visas from seven more countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
We want to be sure to note that the travel ban does not impact your immigration status if you are already in the United States. Also, anyone who is a U.S. citizen or holder of a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) is not directly affected.
These travel restrictions, however, will no doubt impose hardships not only on many within the UMB community, but also on family members and friends from any of the listed countries who might want to visit. The order also might impact your school’s ability to host visiting scholars from these countries. Whatever your situation, we urge you to exercise caution and remain informed of the facts. Contact the UMB Office of International Services (OIS) if you have any questions. OIS plans to reach out to many members of our community directly in the coming days with more specific information.
We strongly advise anyone from one of the 19 countries listed to carefully consider any plans to engage in international travel. Even if you aren’t from one of the affected countries, but are planning to visit one of them for University-related travel, we advise you to contact UMB’s Global Hub for resources, tips, and information.
At UMB, we benefit from the contributions of a large and diverse community, with experiences and backgrounds from all over the world. We absolutely value every one of our students, visiting scholars, faculty, and staff, and we will continue to support you, your safety, and your ability to learn and work at UMB.
Sincerely,
Roger J. Ward, EdD, JD, MSL, MPA
Provost and Executive Vice President
Amy B. Ramirez, MA
Executive Director, Global Learning and International Services