Northeastern University and 30 other universities filed an amicus brief Friday against President Donald J. Trump's second travel ban. Trump, saying it interferes with their global mission and ability to tap the talents of international students and faculty.
Trump's second attempt at a ban was put into effect with a March 6 executive order that barred citizens of six countries — Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — from entering the United States for 90 days.
“These individuals make significant contributions to their fields of study and to campus life, bringing their unique perspectives and talents to amici's classrooms, workshops, and performance spaces,” the brief said.
The case was filed in the federal appeals court in the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, one of the courts that ruled against the ban.
Other universities that signed the amicus brief include Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Brandeis University and Tufts University.
The executive order has affected universities' abilities to recruit students and faculty from the affected countries, according to the report.
The briefing also said the ban prevents the country as a whole from benefiting from the talents of international students.
“These individuals also contribute to the United States and the world at large by making scientific discoveries, starting businesses, and creating works of literature and art that benefit others,” the brief said.
This summary follows a similar suit Northeastern signed on in February to oppose Trump's first travel ban, the result of a Jan. 27 executive order. The original executive order barred entry to the United States from citizens of the six countries listed in the second tier, plus Iraq, and would have barred entry of refugees for 120 days and barred entry of Syrian refugees indefinitely.
In a Feb. 5 letter to the Northeastern community, Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun said the initial ban was unethical and that the university will support the 250 students and 31 staff and faculty affected by the first travel ban.
“I find the president's executive order restricting international travel to be contrary to our core values and completely unacceptable,” Aoun said. “I say this as an educator and as an American who came to this country as an international student […] In the wake of this executive order, it has become abundantly clear that the integration of diverse people, ideas, and cultures—which universities like Northeastern make possible—is more important than ever.”
