Since the implementation of President Trump’s executive orders targeting international students and faculty, Western Michigan University has failed to take any meaningful action to protect its student body. Instead of committing to real protections, WMU President Edward Montgomery and the Board of Trustees have chosen to adopt a so-called "neutrality policy," prioritizing institutional reputation over student safety.

We refuse to accept silence in the face of injustice. We demand that WMU take immediate action to protect its international students from politically motivated targeting, surveillance, and deportation.

Why This Matters

📉 WMU’s enrollment is in crisis.
Since 2017, WMU has experienced a staggering 25% decline in total undergraduate student enrollment, while international student enrollment surged 28%. Over the past year alone, the total number of students increased by just 4%—with nearly all of this growth coming from international students.

💰 WMU recruits and financially benefits from international students
WMU invests thousands of dollars annually in international student recruitment efforts. These students pay higher tuition rates and increasingly offset the university’s financial struggles, yet the administration refuses to stand up for them when their safety is threatened.

⚠️ The executive orders will interfere with students' ability to learn, teach, and conduct research
WMU claims it will only take a stance on issues that impact the ability to learn, teach, or work at the university—but this political crackdown will directly disrupt academic freedom and student success.

Fear & Disruption: Students cannot focus on their studies under the constant threat of surveillance and deportation.
Loss of Faculty: International faculty may be forced to leave, impacting course availability, mentorship, and research.
Discrimination: Arab, Muslim, and pro-Palestinian students are being disproportionately targeted, creating a hostile and unsafe campus environment.
Mental Health Crisis: The stress of potential deportation will severely impact student well-being and academic performance.

Our Demands

WMU must reject neutrality and take tangible action to protect international students by implementing the following:

1. Legal Protections & Advocacy
   • Establish a legal support network to assist students facing visa threats or deportation.
   • Provide free legal consultations and emergency legal assistance for immigration cases.
2. Noncompliance with Federal Political Targeting
   • Refuse to act as an informant on student activism.
   • Adopt a sanctuary campus policy to protect students from politically motivated deportation.
3. Immediate Campus Raid Response Plan
   • Create safe zones on campus for students facing immediate threats.
   • Develop a rapid-response system to alert legal teams and advocacy organizations.
4. Public Assurance of Safety & Non-Discrimination
   • Issue a public statement rejecting the executive orders and pledging protection for international students.
   • Ensure student activism is NOT grounds for disciplinary action or immigration reporting.
5. Financial Support for At-Risk Students
   • Create an emergency tuition relief fund for students affected by immigration policies.
   • Expand on-campus work opportunities for international students facing financial hardship.
6. Greater Transparency & Student Involvement
   • Establish a task force of international student representatives and legal experts to oversee protections.
   • Hold quarterly town halls where international students can voice their concerns directly to the administration.

Sign the Petition & Take Action!
📝 SIGN & SHARE this petition to demand that WMU take immediate action to protect international students!
📢 JOIN US at the WMU Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, April 17, at 12 PM in the WMU Student Center Ballroom to make your voice heard.
📨 EMAIL President Montgomery and the Board of Trustees to demand real protections for students.