Immigration Issues at Middlebury
To Faculty, Staff, and Students,
In recent days, four members of the Middlebury community—an international student actively enrolled at Middlebury College and three alumni from the Middlebury Institute—had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records terminated by the U.S. government.
We have met with our student and contacted our alumni and have been working to support them since we learned of this news.
Our Commitment
We are not sharing details of these particular cases to preserve the privacy of the individuals; however, we want to provide as much information as we can so our community is informed. We are aware that the revocation of visas is a troubling trend at U.S. colleges and universities and want to express our commitment to supporting our international students, faculty, and staff. Our international community is absolutely integral to Middlebury and inseparable from our identity as an inclusive global community.
Continued Monitoring and Court Actions
SEVIS is the government database used to issue visa-eligibility documents and fulfill compliance requirements for maintaining F-1 and J-1 status. Middlebury’s office of International Student Scholar Services (ISSS) regularly monitors the SEVIS status of Middlebury-sponsored international students and scholars to learn of any unexpected changes and provide them with appropriate guidance including resources for legal representation by an immigration attorney. Representatives from Student Affairs are working with the student to determine next steps. We are doing everything we can to guide and support the student and their family during this difficult time.
Middlebury must abide by federal laws and regulations related to student and faculty visas and immigration status. We are taking steps to protect our community through legal pathways. On Monday, April 7, Middlebury joined an amicus brief filed by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration in a lawsuit, brought by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Middle East Studies Association, which challenges the detentions and deportations that have been occurring to members of higher education communities.
As stated in the President’s Alliance brief, “U.S. colleges and universities are unmatched centers of learning, discovery, and training. We draw students, scholars, and researchers from across the nation and around the world to learn together, advance knowledge, foster innovation, and contribute to economic growth and global security. Our higher education institutions cultivate domestic and global talent essential to U.S. scientific and technological advancement and all sectors of society. International and immigrant students, faculty, and staff on our campuses and in our communities are integral to America’s leadership in STEM, healthcare, business, teaching, innovation, the arts, and the workforce of tomorrow.”
Resources for International Students and Scholars
The vice president for student affairs, in coordination with the Office of General Counsel and Risk Management, hosted a Zoom conversation for students with immigration attorney Dan Berger on Monday, April 14, focusing on recent immigration policies, traveling abroad, enforcement, and what to expect in 2025 and beyond. We encourage international students and scholars who have questions about their immigration status to contact ISSS so they may discuss their particular situation. Contact and scheduling information can be found on the ISSS website. We continue to add the latest information to our Travel, Regulatory, and Information Updates page.
We thank you for respecting the privacy of these individuals and anyone else who may encounter this situation. We want to state again, unequivocally, that we are committed to our international community and to preserving the safety and security of all at Middlebury.
We will keep you informed of any additional information as needed.
Sincerely,
Steve Snyder
Interim President
Hannah Ross
General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer
Michelle McCauley
Executive Vice President and Provost