Johns Hopkins University issued a statement Monday in response to the Trump administration's plans to temporarily suspend the entry of certain foreign workers to the U.S. through the end of the year, noting that the move will "sap the nation of a key source of vibrancy and growth."
In a proclamation issued on June 22, the Trump administration barred all new H-1B visas for specialized workers; all J visas for interns, trainees, and other categories; and all L visas, which companies use to transfer international employees to the U.S. The White House says the moves will boost job opportunities for domestic workers amid a protracted economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The university released the following statement:
"Johns Hopkins University strongly objects to the Administration's proclamation announced last week that suspends the issuance of certain nonimmigrant work visas, including the H-1B visas that enable our recruitment of the best and most innovative faculty from around the world. We join with other members of the higher education and business communities in stating that these draconian measures do not protect the U.S. economy and American workers but will instead sap the nation of a key source of vibrancy and growth.
"As a leading global research university, we are enriched by our ability to welcome people with different academic and practical training, experiences, cultural backgrounds, and perspectives, and we are made better by our capacity to nurture talent from around the world. As the leadership of Johns Hopkins University and Medicine noted previously, societal challenges are not constrained by geographic boundaries, and our pursuit of solutions must therefore also transcend borders.
"The Johns Hopkins tripartite mission of research, education, and patient care is fueled by an academic community that includes more than 7,000 international students, faculty, and researchers, hailing from more than 120 nations. Immigrants grace every corner of our academic footprint, from our most senior leadership positions to our residence halls, labs, classrooms, and hospitals. We count among our academic leaders, Nobel Prize winners, and researchers numerous international and foreign-born scholars who share our commitment to discovery and innovation that measurably improves the quality of human life.
"We stand in solidarity with our community of international scholars here at Johns Hopkins and at our peer institutions, and we continue to commit our support to potential avenues to delay or prevent the deleterious impacts from this action and related rulemaking."
Posted in University News
Tagged immigration
