Tensions erupt on campuses around the country over Trump immigration order

The following article by Ryan Brooks was posted on the USA Today website January 31, 2017:

Students at colleges and universities around the country are protesting against President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

With a few strokes of his pen on Friday Trump barred citizens from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the United States. The executive order also suspended the refugee resettlement program for 120 days and indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the country.

The executive order has left colleges and universities scrambling to protect their international students, staff and faculty and many have issued statements in regards to the order.

Students at universities around the country are voicing their concerns and opposition to what many are calling the “Muslim ban.”

Here’s a look at some of the protests happening at colleges and universities around the country.

Wayne State University

Students at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. planned an emergency protest on campus in opposition to the recently signed executive order.

Big protest planned today at Wayne State University over #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/ky5kyrhU2q

— Motor City Muckraker (@MCmuckraker) January 30, 2017

Columbia University

Students at Columbia University gathered to oppose the immigration and border wall executive orders at a #NoBanNoWall protest. Navid Warhāmān, a Columbia Ph.D. candidate from Tehran, Iran, was among those protesting the executive order. “I am an immigrant myself and I can tell you entering this country and staying was no easy process — it was extremely rigorous,” Warhāmān told USA TODAY College.

Speaking of other international students from the seven affected countries, Warhāmān said, “The ban eliminates all their contributions, disturbs their lives and tears apart families.” He added that he believes the policy is irrational and discriminatory. “From a policy perspective, too, such a blanket ban does not rest on a rational basis. Any citizen with the slightest moral drive or even meager political rationality should be protesting this ban,” said Warhāmān.

University of Toledo

Students at the University of Toledo organized a march on their campus.

“When I found out about the Muslim ban I really wanted to get involved. I wanted to travel to an airport and join the protest but I had no way to do so. so when I saw the flyer for the march here on campus, I instantly knew I was going,” Drew Wilson, a sophomore at the University of Toledo, told USA TODAY College. “It’s just so important that everyone here in America feels safe and wanted in this country.”

Boston University

Protesters at Boston University gathered at Marsh Plaza to voice their concerns.

University of California-San Diego

University of Virginia

Students at the University of Virginia protested near a section of the Berlin Wall displayed on campus.

Yale University

Yale held a candelight vigil to show their solidarity with immigrants and refugees.

The Yale Daily News estimated that 1,000 members of the Yale community participated.