On January 6, Assistant Provost Martin McFarlane sent the following message to international students and scholars who were directly affected by the December 16 White House proclamation:
On Thursday, January 1, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum that affects individuals born in countries or citizens of countries listed in a previously issued Presidential Proclamation. You are receiving this email because your country of citizenship is included and ISSS wants to make sure you are informed of the potential impacts.
This new policy memorandum suspends all benefit requests from individuals with your citizenship and orders a review of all previously approved benefits issued over the past five years. As this policy memorandum deals with the adjudication and processing of benefit requests by USCIS, ISSS will still issue the necessary documents if you choose to file for benefits such as change of status or work authorization, however we cannot advise on when the pause will be lifted nor whether your application will be adjudicated or approved by USCIS. Furthermore, it is possible you may receive communication regarding previously approved applications and current authorizations. If you do, please contact ISSS immediately for guidance on potential next steps, which will vary based on individual circumstances.
We understand this announcement adds yet another layer of distress and anxiety for all members of our international community, but particularly for those from the countries directly affected. ISSS will continue to provide dedicated support to all members of our international community, ensuring you are informed and aware of any immigration regulation changes to make the best decisions possible for your own circumstances.