Princeton President Eisgruber issues statement on Supreme Court travel ban ruling

By the Office of Communications on June 26, 2018, 5:09 p.m.

In a 5-4 decision Tuesday, June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal order that bans travelers from certain majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States. Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber issued the following statement in response to the ruling:

"In today's sharply divided Supreme Court decision, Justice Anthony Kennedy's thoughtful comments deserve special attention.  He rightly observed that America cannot count on judges to correct every wrong done by its government, and that other branches must step forward to ensure 'that our Government remains committed always to the liberties the Constitution seeks to preserve and protect, so that freedom extends outward, and lasts.'

“America's ideals demand that every official and every citizen respect fully the freedom of religion.  Moreover, our educational, scientific, economic and artistic advances depend on our continued ability to attract extraordinarily talented people from all over the world who bring skills and insights that enhance this nation and our society.  The travel ban executive order inhibits this free flow of scholars and ideas and sends a chilling message not only to promising and law-abiding individuals from the affected regions, but also to students and scholars from around the world who want to contribute to an open and welcoming society.

“Princeton University will continue to fully and vigorously support our international students, faculty and staff, who are a vital and integral part of our University community. We are proud to welcome talent from around the world and will defend the vital role that immigration plays at Princeton, in higher education and in our country.”

 

Related Stories

Princeton and Microsoft continue their support of DACA program with new federal filing .

Princeton and Microsoft’s Nov. 29 comment follows their recent successful Supreme Court suit to preserve the DACA program, which provides legal protections for undocumented individuals who arrived in the United States as children.

In Princeton-Microsoft case, court rules government acted unlawfully in rescinding DACA program .

Ruling in a lawsuit brought by Princeton University, one of its undergraduate students and Microsoft, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Tuesday that the federal government's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was unlawful.

President Eisgruber issues statement on federal immigration executive order .

Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber issued a statement to the University community Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, on the federal immigration executive order.

Eisgruber, other university presidents ask President Trump to 'rectify or rescind' immigration order .

Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber and 47 other American college and university presidents today sent a letter to President Trump urging him to "rectify or rescind the recent executive order closing our country's borders to immigrants and others from seven majority-Muslim countries and to refugees from throughout the world." "If left in place," the letters says, "the order threatens both American higher education and the defining principles of our country."

Court reaffirms ruling backing Princeton, student and Microsoft challenge to government effort to end DACA .

A federal court has reaffirmed its earlier ruling in a lawsuit brought by Princeton University, one of its undergraduate students and Microsoft that the federal government’s decision to rescind DACA program was unlawful. President Christopher L. Eisgruber said Princeton was very pleased with the decision.

President Eisgruber asks Senate committee to avoid 'religious test' in judicial appointments .

Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber sent the following letter Friday, Sept. 8, to the Republican chair of and the ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Class of 2023 Commencement Address by President Eisgruber: 'Let Your Voices Rise' .

"We must stand up and speak up together for the values of free expression and full inclusivity for people of all identities," the President said. "So, as you go forth from this University, let your voices rise."