In light of recent events, including the January 20th Executive Order concerning undocumented immigrants, the January 30th Executive Order calling for the deportation of international students, scholars, and staff participating in campus protests, the detention of graduate students Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, postdoctoral scholar Badar Khan Suri and the attempted detention of Yunseo Chung by the Department of Homeland Security, the Comparative Literature faculty at UCI express deep concern regarding the potential targeting of students, faculty, staff, and workers across the country, whether on the grounds of political speech or immigration status. The department affirms its mission and the right of all students, faculty, workers, and staff to think, speak, and write freely and critically, free of fear, intimidation or retaliation. We stand with all who are under threat of unlawful detention and deportation and oppose these violent incarcerations.
We also firmly endorse the call by the Council of University of California Faculty Associations for the University of California to develop policies and dedicate resources to assisting international students, scholars, staff and faculty:
"First, the University should guarantee that each campus can and will provide legal support for those whose visas are revoked.
"Second, UC must ensure that any student whose visa and/or legal status is revoked and who is either detained or deported can remain enrolled at their campus and can remotely continue their program of study until its completion, whether undergraduate or graduate.
"Third, if any student or scholar receiving a fellowship, stipend, or salary from the University is deported, they continue to receive that funding until the end of their contract or relevant course of study.
"Fourth, any staff or faculty member whose visa is revoked and who is detained and/or deported be given the opportunity to work remotely, to remain on the payroll and continue to receive their salary.
"Fifth, the University, as sponsor of the legal status of international students and scholars, seek action in the federal courts to halt termination of legal status without due process or prior communication to the University."