APLU Statement on the Supreme Court’s Ruling Upholding Trump Administration’s Travel Ban

Washington, DC – Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) President Peter McPherson today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Trump administration’s travel ban.

“While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the president has the authority to implement the existing travel ban, the Court did not rule on whether such a policy is wise. It is not. In writing the majority opinion, Chief Justice Roberts specifically noted today’s ruling only addresses the narrow issue of whether the order was permissible under the Constitution and current law.

“Public universities remain deeply concerned about this misguided travel ban and the message it sends to all international students and scholars who have long been drawn to U.S. universities to undertake studies, conduct research, and teach students at our world-leading institutions. APLU joined with other higher education associations to file a friend-of-the-court brief expressing precisely these concerns, which two justices cited and said they shared in dissenting opinions.

“Decades of experience in the higher education community shows that these students and scholars provide countless intellectual, cultural, and scientific contributions – not just to universities, but to our country as a whole. They discover lifesaving cures. They create businesses. They spread American values abroad. In short, they help advance our national interest.

“We remain committed to working with the Trump administration and Congress to ensure our immigration policies keep our country and American values secure. But in so doing, we must take care to not deter international students and scholars with good intent who have played such a central role in enriching the American academy, economy, and culture for generations.”