Press release: IGWC Protests Visa Revocations; IU to Affirm Student Status

Update — Mark Bode, Executive Director of Media Relations and Public Affairs at Indiana University, issued the following statement Wednesday: “Last week a regularly scheduled meeting took place between university staff and members of the Graduate and Professional Student Government, a recognized student organization. During the meeting, administrators provided information about existing protocols and guidance for students navigating federal immigration policies.

The university will continue to remain compliant with all applicable state and federal laws.”

The following was sent to the Bloomingtonian by the IGWC:

Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IGWC Protests Visa Revocations; IU to Affirm Student Status
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—Last Thursday, April 10th, over 300 graduate workers, staff, faculty, and
community members protested the recent revocation of visas at IU, demanding that IU honor its
commitment to these students and ensure them a pathway to degree. In the midst of the
protest, IU administration met with IGWC and Graduate and Professional Student Government
leadership to negotiate protections for those unjustly impacted by the actions of the Department
of Homeland Security both now and in the coming months.
In this meeting, IU agreed to proactively supporting students unjustly impacted by the actions of
the Department of Homeland Security in the following ways:

1. IU will not unenroll students when their Visa/SEVIS is revoked.
2. IU’s Office of International Services (OIS) will proactively check the SEVIS records daily,
   and reach out to impacted students immediately, as well as alerting the relevant
   departments and the Graduate School.
3. OIS will monitor and collect federal visa and immigration policy changes:
   global.iu.edu/resources/visa-immigration-updates.html.
4. The Graduate School will work with departments to create a flexible pathway to degree
   for students impacted by these revocations, including easing travel requirements and
   allowing remote defenses. These details will vary on a case-by-case basis.
5. IU administration will clarify the differences between Visa revocations and the
   termination of a SEVIS record, which have different implications for the continuation of
   SAA work. Though it is not legal to continue work, IU will not automatically terminate
   employment for an impacted student—OIS will communicate details regarding work for
   pay to the student. Fellowships and awards, however, are not impacted by Visa/SEVIS
   status, and can continue to be dispersed.
6. IU agreed not to proactively provide information to the Department of Homeland
   Security.
   The IU administration also clarified in the meeting, as well as in subsequent meetings with
   academic departments, that the current Visa revocations have no clear pattern at IU. They are
   not tied to political activity and also don’t seem to be related to membership in IGWC in any way.
   IGWC members celebrated the victory.
   “Graduate workers have already shown that we are willing to stand up for each other,” read
   an IGWC newsletter. “And solidarity won a massive victory for international students in a
   deeply uncertain time.”
   While IU has already responded to the collective action of students by ensuring a path to
   degree, it can still do more to support its international students.
   “We are extremely pleased with the administration’s efforts,” said Elijah Beaton, a graduate
   worker in the Department of History. “We still have a lot of work to do. We don’t know how many
   more Visa revocations may come in the future, nor do we know if any other means will be
   deployed to target our international colleagues.”
   In addition to its new commitments, the IGWC suggests that the administration can also create
   an Emergency Research Continuity Fellowship and waive tuition requirements to cover students
   who are impacted by these revocations. This does not violate visa restrictions, and could help
   ensure financial stability in an extremely distressing situation.
   The university could also declare itself a sanctuary campus and refuse to cooperate with federal
   immigration enforcement agencies including DHS, ICE, and CBP. If IU is legally compelled to
   work with these agencies, it can notify students of the presence of these agencies on campus.
   The IGWC invites its members to an International Grad Worker Town Hall this evening, April
   16th, at 5:30 p.m. in Swain West, Room 119, to provide more information. For international
   students seeking emergency resources, please visit https://linktr.ee/btownrights4intlstudents.
   ABOUT IGWC (indianagradworkers.org)—The IGWC was founded in 2019 to advocate for
   graduate workers with the primary purpose of eliminating exorbitant fees and increasing pay.
   IGWC actions, including a massive four-week strike in the Spring of 2022, successfully brought
   an end to the fees and forced the IU administration to shift funds into graduate education,
   significantly improving the lives of graduate employees in Bloomington. There are
   approximately 2,400 SAA graduate employees on the Bloomington campus. Graduate workers
   are employed as Associate Instructors, Research Assistants, Graduate Assistants, and Adjuncts.
   Others are employed on an hourly basis. They teach hundreds of courses as primary instructors,
   conduct research in labs, and perform as artists and musicians.

   Social Media:
   https://www.instagram.com/indianagrads/
   https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ylrlmerslxumquz6cnmhjbot
   https://www.twitter.com/indianagrads

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