[This just arrived in our in-box, from the American Political Science Association.]
The APSA posted a formal statement condemning the new Executive Order on immigration issued by President Trump. The full text of the statement appears below. The statement is also available [here].
APSA statement regarding President Trump's executive order "Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States," January 30, 2017
The American Political Science Association (APSA) condemns the Executive Order issued on January 27, 2017, entitled "Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States," and strongly urges President Trump to rescind it. The order generates immediate and detrimental effects on colleagues and students with whom we teach, write, and collaborate. It undermines academic freedom in the most fundamental way by restricting the ability of scholars to meet, learn and exchange ideas on campuses of American colleges and universities. As scholars and teachers, we deplore the interruption of research, teaching, and intellectual engagement that this order causes.
The American Political Science Association is a scholarly association with over 13,000 members worldwide, including members who are residents and/or citizens of the seven countries affected by the immigration ban in the Executive Order. APSA brings together political scientists from all fields of inquiry, regions, and occupational endeavors within and outside academe to deepen our understanding of politics, democracy, and citizenship throughout the world.
As indicated in our vision statement, the APSA works to promote "scholarly understanding of political ideas, norms, behaviors, and institutions to inform public choices about government, governance and public policy". The lack of full regard for liberal democratic norms and practices demonstrated in this Executive Order can deeply harm these scholarly understandings. We urge the President and the other federal officials to consider these and other scholarly understandings of the strengths and foundations of the United States' political system and political culture when making decisions that may affect them, and we call on the President to rescind this order immediately.
As an organization, the APSA also stands ready to support any colleague who may be directly or indirectly affected by this executive order. If any APSA member is affected by this executive action, please contact us for any support or assistance we can provide. Visit this link for resources or to request support.
David A. Lake, President
Jennifer Hochschild, Past-President
Kathleen Thelen, President-Elect
Steven Rathgeb Smith, Executive Director