Dear Campus Community,

At UC Riverside, we value international students. Representing more than eighty countries, our international students not only study on our campus but also serve as ambassadors for UCR throughout the world. We realize greater breadth of perspectives because they have chosen to make UCR their educational home. Many contribute to our research endeavors and teach while pursuing graduate studies.

Recently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) instituted a new policy that would have prohibited international students from remaining in the United States if they were taking all classes online. The policy posed an impossible challenge—either risk losing international students or fully open the campus to in-person classes amid a pandemic. Dozens of colleges and universities and at least 20 states including the University of California and State of California filed lawsuits to stop the new directive.

Yesterday, I.C.E. reversed its policy. As a result, international students may remain in the U.S. to pursue their studies whether online or in-person.

We join UC President Janet Napolitano in applauding this decision and stand firm in our support of our international students. As our world battles COVID-19, we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community, which includes taking action to oppose discrimination as we uphold values of diversity, inclusivity, and equality.