Religion Department opposes U.S. Executive Order

We, the members of the Dartmouth College Religion Department, voice our strong opposition to the US Executive Order, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” issued on January 27, 2017. This Executive Order, among other things, suspends the entry of permanent residents, refugees, immigrants, students, visitors, researchers and nonimmigrant citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen into the United States for the next ninety days, and possibly for a longer period still. The Executive Order also indicates that additional countries may be recommended for similar treatment, and that members of a particular religion may be banned.

Undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students at Dartmouth College who come from one of those seven countries, or who hold dual citizenship that includes one of them, are of immediate concern to us. Their plans to participate in one of our Dartmouth foreign study programs, or to undertake research in another country, are now in jeopardy. Family members who may wish to attend graduation ceremonies are now in jeopardy. Visits home are no longer possible. Their future is in doubt. In addition, the Dartmouth College faculty counts among its members and visitors several individuals who come from countries affected by this Executive Order. These are individuals of remarkable talent and knowledge who make important contributions to scholarship, which is the driving engine of our economic, political, cultural and social growth. Many of us in the Religion Department, moreover, have friends and colleagues in these countries. We want only the warmest and most heartfelt hospitality to be extended to these friends and colleagues when they come to the United States, just as many of us have been extended warm and heartfelt hospitality in our time in the countries in question.

We call upon the President, the US Congress, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and our judicial system to overturn this executive order immediately.

Religion Department
Dartmouth College
January 29, 2017