President Trump’s recent immigration ban was set in place on Jan. 27. Though temporarily suspended and headed for the Supreme Court, it has instigated emotional responses from all political sides.

Inquiry rises on what is the future of this order and how it will affect our International Exchange Program at SFCC.

Public outcry and protest, including protests in Spokane, took place immediately after President Trump signed his recent executive order which barred citizens from six predominantly Islamic countries from entering the United States for 90 days and indefinitely barred Syrian citizens from entering the US.

“It is cruel, inhuman, and un-American,” said Ben Stuckart, Spokane City Council President. Stuckart described why he believed this executive order and Obama’s 2011 ban on Iraqi immigration to be unrelatable.

“Obama’s ban was based on a threat, and it didn’t affect green card holders.” said Stuckart. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers has expressed sympathy for those affected by this ban, and that it could have been handled much better. She has not made an official statement, but revealed that she still stands behind the ban.

“The intent of the executive order is the one I support,” said McMorris Rogers on KXLY, Jan. 30. This ban was not received without active resistance on a national level. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates was removed from her position after instructing the Justice Department to not defend the executive order.

“(Yates had) betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States,” said Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, through a press release on Jan 30.

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently filed a lawsuit against this order which has effectively suspended the ban from lawfully being enforced while it awaits ruling from the Supreme Court. President Trump has expressed interest in bypassing this delay, with his adviser Stephen Miller stating that writing a brand new order is an option.

Several members of SFCC, both staff and students, have expressed concern regarding this ban. The school has made it clear that they will not tolerate any sort of discrimination. ”Spokane Falls Community College welcomes all students, regardless of their backgrounds and where they’re from,” said Janet Gullickson, SFCC President.

This stance has given some Muslim students comfort, but they are not without their reservations. While Muslim students were questioned regarding their thoughts towards the matter, they neglected to offer their names to go along with the quotes.

“Likely due to cultural reasons, Muslim students can be private with their image in public,” said Ashley Ding, Global Education Program Coordinator of SFCC.

Other members of the school’s administration have stressed the importance of diversity in a place of education.

“Generations of foreign policy leaders have viewed international students as one of America’s greatest foreign policy assets,” said Hadda Estrada, Assistant Dean of Global Education. “I believe in the power of education.”