Students protest Trump ‘travel ban’ on immigrants from seven Muslim countries

Written by Melissa Burgess/ Assistant News Director

“No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” could be heard throughout FIU as students and faculty protested on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Graham Center lawn, demanding the university to protect their international students and faculty.

President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily suspends all immigration for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries for 90 days and a 120 day ban on all refugees from entering the United States, an order that is affecting many FIU students, faculty and staff.  

Jasmine Hatab, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering, was among the protesters. She said that she wanted FIU to understand that many students and members of the FIU community are being affected.

“President Trump’s order is a violation of the constitution and the rights of citizens and of green card holders,” said Hatab. “FIU has international students, professors, and speakers that get invited to speak here that are being affected by all of this. We need to advocate for human rights.”

However, the White House has defended the executive order as a temporary security measure to keep individuals with possible ties to terrorism from entering the country.

Geeticka Chauhan, a senior majoring in computer science, is an Indian student at the protest that held a sign that said “This is about race.”

“I think it is not only an unconstitutional ban but it’s clearly racially motivated,” said Chauhan. “You look at terrorist attacks, the countries that weren’t included in the ban were actually from where the terrorist attacks were from. This is not about keeping us safe.”

Although the ban doesn’t apply to Chauhan and her family, she said she does not agree with President Trump’s executive order.

“I’m brown skinned and my family is brown skinned and I’m viewed a certain way by people,” said Chauhan. “There has been racial slurs about people from the middle east and I’m not okay with that.”

Many students are concerned that some classmates could have their visas run out and not be extended for them to continue their studies.

Rayid Sakib, the president of SJP and a senior majoring in biomedical engineering, was also at the protest. He explained that he was worried he would be unable to reenter the United States if he planned to travel to visit his family.

“I am an international student and I am from Bangladesh and if something happens to my family, I won’t be able to go see them because there’s a good chance I might not be able to come back,” said Sakib. “So many of my friends are here working or studying and they can’t travel to their countries either because they don’t want to take the risk.”

FIU and other South Florida universities have issued statements in support of international students affected by the ban. In a statement released by Provost and Executive Vice President Kenneth G. Futon said that “as a community, we must come together to support those among us who may be feeling particularly vulnerable during this uncertain time.”

However, Hatab says that the university is not doing enough to protect their students.

“The message sent out by the provost was very neutral. His message isn’t saying that the university will protect us students,” said Hatab. “I don’t understand why the university has become so complacent with this issue.”

The ban has ignited protests at universities around the U.S. declaring themselves “sanctuary campuses” for students, faculty and staff who are affected by the executive orders.

Protestors at FIU said that they wanted to advocate the university to be a “sanctuary campus.”

JC Urbina, an FIU alumni who majored in Linguistics, said that as an internationally diverse institution, students need represent our diversity by being a sanctuary campus.

“We want incoming immigrants to know that this is a safe place for them and that they are welcome to continue their education and better their future,” he said. “As an FIU student, we need to do what we can to protect our peers.”