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In light of the executive order on immigration issued on Friday, January 27, 2017, the Society for Classical Studies publicly reaffirms its commitment to the international community of scholars and to the importance of the free movement of scholarship and ideas. We believe that the selective ban placed on the entry to the United States by individuals of particular nationalities and (in effect) of particular religious beliefs, the suspension of all refugee processing, and the suspension of the Visa Interview Waiver Program are harmful to students, scholars, and academic institutions in this country and, given the importance of the middle eastern region to the study of classical antiquity, of particular concern to our discipline.

The legal and procedural situation with respect to this order remains unclear and somewhat in flux, as the status of green card holders has apparently been revised, and it seems that a number of individuals originally detained have been released. Nevertheless, we join with many other colleges, universities, and academic organizations in expressing our strong concern that the actions set out in the executive order run contrary, not only to the foundations of our discipline, but to some of the deepest values of the United States—as a nation of immigrants, of freedom, and of hope. Further, we join with many colleagues here and around the world in urging that legal and legislative actions be taken, as necessary, to ensure that those values are upheld.

This statement approved and issued by the Board of Directors on 1/31/17