Below is an open letter that the Murray State University College Democrats wrote to the Murray State administration. This letter was sent to multiple administrators and offices, including current President Bob Jackson, incoming President Ron K. Patterson, the Provost office, etc. on April 18, 2025. We are asking that the university take responsibility for the safety of international students who may be at risk of deportation or revoked documentation by increasing their communication/transparency with the entire MSU community. 

This entire event has been stressful and confusing for those of us at MSU and we want reassurance that our administration will protect students now and in future semesters. Place pressure on the current and incoming president to condemn the recent revoking of documentation, share information about the recent incidents around revoked visas, publicly clarify the university policy around faculty interactions with ICE/federal law enforcement, and name steps they're taking to inform students of possible threats to their safety or documentation.

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An open letter to Murray State University administration,

The threat to our international and immigrant students has recently increased due to the inactions of the Murray State University administration. At least one Murray State international student has had their visa revoked. Campus administration only alerted some faculty of the development that a visa was revoked, leaving other students at risk. While ICE and federal agencies cannot legally be stopped from entering public spaces, the university administration can alert students and faculty of their presence and/or actions on campus to allow students a chance at seeking protection. Being a university that boasts about having international students from over 50 different countries, students expect administrators to see their safety as a priority while on campus, especially when classes are in progress.

In response to this traumatizing situation, the Murray State University College Democrats are calling on President Bob Jackson and incoming President Ron K. Patterson to make public statements about their commitment to the safety of all members of the MSU community. We are demanding that they condemn the recent actions towards international students' citizenship and to provide steps being taken to increase transparency about student’s rights being violated. This includes transparency on the university’s knowledge of the recent situation around the visa being revoked. Along with this, there has been unclear communication on how to respond to ICE on campus, so administration should publicly state the university's policy for how faculty are to interact with ICE on campuses and ways to protect students. To be clear, we are not asking that personal information be released, just notification of when law enforcement is present and/or actively targeting students on campuses.

Failure to take physical steps to protect students puts the entire MSU community at risk, as we are no longer aware of the full scope of our safety on campus. Students and parents of students  seek out an institution like Murray State because they trust the university will support them in their pursuit of a higher education, and, above all, that they will feel safe and comfortable in “the finest place we know.” Allowing international students to go through the process of obtaining an educational visa to attend MSU, then staying silent about visas being revoked and not addressing the possible presence of ICE, is a blatant betrayal of that trust. Furthermore, the lack of transparency and overall communication from the university is saddening, frustrating, and frankly, horrifying.

Every student that seeks to learn at MSU has the right to do so without fear of persecution. Actions taken by administration are the only way to prove that the university cares about and will protect those rights.

Sincerely, 

Jocelyn Stark 

President of the Murray State College Democrats