Recent Immigration Enforcement Actions and Available Resources
April 15, 2025
Dear WSU faculty, staff, and students,
As university leadership continues to navigate through federal changes,
we are seeing an upswing in immigration enforcement actions and want to
address questions about these actions and available resources.
Has WSU been impacted by the federal enforcement actions?
Yes, as of Friday, April 11, 2025, three WSU international students
have had their visa status revoked. One student had already graduated
while the other two students are currently enrolled. Based on current
national trends, we anticipate these enforcement actions to continue.
What is WSU doing for students who have their status revoked?
If a student is notified of a status or visa revocation, the student
should immediately contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
at 509-335-4508. ISSS is working individually with each student to identify
resources and all available options for them to continue their WSU education.
In most cases, and especially for undergraduates, this means identifying
options through WSU’s Global Campus. For graduate students, we will work
with them to identify options in the same manner we work with all graduate
students who experience a sudden change in circumstances.
What should we do if immigration enforcement officials show up?
First and foremost, we recommend everyone be proactive and know your rights.
The Washington Attorney General’s office provides a comprehensive resource on
the rights of an individual in immigration civil enforcement. If immigration
officials show up on campus, please reference the guidance and frequently asked questions (FAQs)
we developed to help guide our community on rights and
responsibilities when interacting with federal agents. This guide also explains
the difference between public and limited access spaces on WSU property, which
must be taken into account since WSU is a public institution.
If I am not a citizen of the United States, should I travel domestically
or internationally?
We recommend all members of our international community carefully review
the travel guidance we have developed. Please be advised that the long-standing
requirement to carry registration papers is now being actively enforced for both
domestic and international travel, and enforcement agents are requiring original
documents. This means you will need to carry your original registration document
whenever you travel. These documents can include various forms like the green
card (I-551), employment authorization documents (EAD), arrival-departure
records (I-94), and travel permits. If you have questions about travel, please
reach out to ISSS or Risk Management for consultation.
These are very challenging times. Please know that a
variety of support offices at WSU have expertise and are committed to assisting
you with these matters. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our community,
and in our commitment to our land-grant mission and its core outcome of access
and opportunity for all. All support offices referenced herein are constantly
monitoring events and available to assist and answer questions. Likewise,
please feel free to reach out to provost@wsu.edu with any questions.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth R. Cantwell
System President
T. Chris Riley-Tillman
Provost and Executive Vice President
