An email sent to Northeastern community members March 26 warned of immigration restrictions following a nationwide crackdown on non-citizens who have participated in activism on college campuses.
Upon taking office Jan. 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order placing travel restrictions on countries of “‘particular concern,’” the email said, in an effort to target “foreign terrorists and national security” threats. This ban could restrict travel to the United States across 43 countries, labeled as either “red” with a complete travel ban, “orange” with visa restrictions or “yellow” with increased scrutiny, according to the email. A draft list of proposed travel ban countries obtained by The New York Times reported 11 countries were labeled as “red,” including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Venezuela.
In the email, signed by Northeastern Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Life Madeleine Estabrook, the university urged global community members “who might be affected to exercise caution when traveling or consider delaying international travel.”
“We expect these orders to face legal challenges and will keep you updated as policies change,” Estabrook wrote in the email.
Estabrook advised students to regularly review the university’s “2025 Travel Recommendations” page, to follow all international travel guidance provided by the Office of Global Services, or OGS, register travel records with Northeastern and prepare for the possibility of personal electronic devices being searched.
“Be aware that the U.S. Government is now publicly acknowledging that they are scanning social media when making decisions about issuing visas, approving admission to the U.S., and granting USCIS (United States Citizen and Immigration Services) benefits,” Estabrook wrote.
The email goes on to say no government officials demand immediate payment, threaten deportation or ask for sensitive personal information over the phone or by email. Students were instructed to contact the OGS or the Northeastern University Police Department for assistance if they experience any such encounters with federal law enforcement.
As of 2024, Northeastern’s international student population constituted 29% of the student body and is represented by 147 countries.
Federal immigration officers have recently targeted students legally in the United States on college campuses. On March 8, authorities detained Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who was in the country legally on a green card, and most recently, Tufts University doctoral candidate Rumyesa Ozturk. Ozturk was detained by federal authorities March 25, resulting in an outcry of confusion and concern from the public.
In an email sent to Tufts students from university president Sunil Kumar March 25, the president clarified that “the university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University.”
Presently, Khalil and Ozturk are presently being held in detention in Louisiana.
“We know that there is a great deal of uncertainty at this time, and we encourage you to stay informed and prepared,” Estabrook wrote at the end of the email.
