Around 118 University students could be directly affected by President Donald Trump’s executive order halting citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States, according to fall 2016 enrollment numbers from the LSU Office of Budget and Planning.
Based on permanent home address, 108 of these students come from Iran, five are from Syria, two are from Libya, two are from Iraq, and one student comes from Sudan. According to the data, no University students have a permanent home address in Somalia or Yemen.
The list does not include other students who do not have a permanent home address in these countries and might not reflect students who are indirectly affected by the order, such as those with family in these countries.
LSU President F. King Alexander sent a broadcast email regarding the immigration policy to the University community Monday, noting the “significant alarm within the higher education community.”
“Cultural and intellectual exchange bring significant economic and diplomatic benefits,” Alexander’s email said. “Faculty and staff from around the world have become part of our university, with many using their unique talents to solve our state’s challenges. And our history is filled with international students who returned home to play pivotal leadership roles in their own nations that ultimately resulted in stronger diplomatic ties with the United States.”
According to the fall 2016 numbers, 150 students come from majority Muslim countries not targeted by the executive order, including Turkey, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.