Takeaway: Attend an emergency meeting about Trump’s alarming executive order on visas this Wednesday, September 24, at 5:30 p.m. Click here to sign up. We will continue to share all the information we can gather, both before and after the meeting—so watch your inbox.
Dear colleague,
Hundreds of our international colleagues woke up on Saturday to an email sent late the previous evening by Rutgers Global about a new executive order signed by Trump that has caused fear, uncertainty, and, for some, serious panic about the status of their H-1B visas—the main visa that most international faculty and researchers utilize. As usual, some of the most marginalized and precarious people represented by our unions are facing the consequences of the federal government’s cruelty under Trump.
Our union is doing all we can to understand the specific impact of Trump’s order on Rutgers, what our international colleagues can and should do under the circumstances, and what the rest of us can do to support them. We will hold an emergency meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, September 24, at 5:30 p.m. Click here to sign up. We will share all useful information that we have at the meeting—and invite all of you to discuss your concerns and your ideas for confronting this new attack.
Before we go into more detail about what we know, we want to make an appeal to those of you who aren’t members of your union. All of us are firmly committed to defending ALL of our colleagues, regardless of whether they are members or not. But our ability to protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable, depends on having a strong membership. We have contract language protecting international educators and researchers because of our members’ solidarity and commitment over decades. If you aren’t a member, please join us as we fight together to protect each other and our university. Click here and fill out the form.
Background: Here’s What We Know
(NOTE: The situation has changed rapidly in the past few days, and it is impossible to provide a running commentary with complete accuracy. This is the best information we have.)
Late Friday night, all international workers on an H-1B visa at our university were informed that because of Trump’s executive order, Rutgers Global had changed its travel advice to “DO NOT TRAVEL” and “RETURN TO USA WITHIN 36 HOURS OR FACE BEING UNABLE TO ENTER.” Rutgers Global remains the first point of contact for most international scholars here, and their advice matched that given by virtually all immigration law firms at the time. Unsurprisingly, this caused widespread anxiety among our colleagues.
By Saturday night, following some clarification from the federal government, Rutgers Global sent a second email stating that existing visa holders are not expected to be affected (yet) by the executive order. The previous warnings about travel were rescinded. Despite not facing immediate danger, fear remains among our international colleagues. It increasingly feels like causing upheaval and chaos is the goal of the Trump administration’s latest move.
As of today, no new advice has emerged from Rutgers Global. But many questions remain. What does the executive order mean for in-country renewals of H-1B visas? Will the cap-exempt sector for H-1B visas (universities and nonprofits) be exempt from the outrageous $100,000 fee for applications? How will Rutgers adjust? What does this mean for students on an F-1 visa—especially those on Optional Practical Training (OPT) or in the job market? What support can international workers access from Rutgers or through our union?
While Trump’s order is likely to be challenged in court, the threat is widespread. At colleges and universities across the country, more than 120,000 faculty, full-time researchers, postdocs, and staff on H1-B visas conduct crucial research, teach cutting-edge classes, provide necessary support for students, run labs working on critical health care and engineering innovations, and more.
Wee hope to provide the best answers we have to your questions at our emergency meeting on Wednesday, September 24, at 5:30 p.m. Click here to sign up.
In the meantime, for those of you who aren’t facing this threat, please reach out to international students, postdocs, or faculty you are connected to and express your support. Our union is ultimately us, and our strength comes from our solidarity. Many new international workers are fearful of even joining our union. If they come from a place where collective action is discouraged, they will be looking for answers and support.
It’s up to all of us to repay their trust in us. We will get through this together—or not at all.
In solidarity,
Nikaytaa Malhotra, Co-Chair, International Workers Solidarity Committee, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
Paul O’Keefe, Co-Chair, International Workers Solidarity Committee, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
Rebecca Givan, President, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
Heather Pierce, President, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union
Dr. Catherine Monteleone, President, AAUP-BHSNJ