Elon University President Leo Lambert addressed President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on immigration in an email to students, faculty and staff Sunday night, saying the university is "monitoring this unfolding situation very carefully."
"No one in the Elon community has been stranded outside of the United States because of this Executive Order," Lambert said.
The Executive Order broadly bans travel to the United States from Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Yemen for 90 days, suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days and suspends entry of all Syrian refugees indefinitely.
In the email, Lambert confirmed Elon's compliance with federal regulations related to administering international programs, and said the university wouldn't release any confidential data — including immigration status — of faculty, staff or students unless required by law.
Lambert is one of more than 600 college and university presidents who signed a statement supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program which “makes higher education possible for undocumented immigrant students.” Lambert will also be traveling to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to join a delegation of leaders from universities in North Carolina who will be meeting with state and congressional representatives to voice their opinion on U.S. immigration policy.
"As you encounter international students and scholars on campus this week, I hope you will offer words of encouragement, support, and respect," Lambert said. "My four grandparents emigrated to this nation a century ago with little formal education and unable to speak a word of English. Our family is but one example of how this great nation has helped transform the lives of millions of immigrants. I ask that members of the Elon community hold high the light of generosity and compassion and drive out fear."