Hi!

My name is Karin Sarkizova. I am one of the many international students at UCLA, facing the threat of deportation, according to the policy, issued by ICE on July 6th, 2020. Under this regulation, any student on nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 visas cannot remain in, or legally enter the US, if their courses are entirely online. This will not only force us to leave our current homes, uncertain of when we can return, but also expose us to the threat of COVID-19 through travel, putting our health and the health of our families in danger. 

To solve this issue, we wish to create a 1 or 2-unit, in-person class at UCLA, run by students and faculty members, and following social distancing regulations, which will allow us to remain in the country. We hope for this class to provide the international student community with a sanctuary-like space to address issues related to the immigrant experience and the identities that intersect it (including the marginalization of POC and LGBTQ+ folks, amongst others). 

We are asking fellow Bruins and all UCLA-affiliated parties for HELP in signing and sharing this petition. Many of us share the dream of building a better life here, in the US, and with your support, we can keep this dream alive!