To the Presidential Precinct Community: White House Issues Travel Ban

Dear Presidential Precinct community,

On Friday, January 27, the White House issued an executive order suspending entry to the U.S. by citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, affecting approximately 218 million people.

In response, we have received a large number of phone calls and emails expressing concern over this executive order and how it could impact our ongoing work with rising leaders in these countries. Since our founding five years ago, we have had the opportunity to work with more than two dozen leaders from the seven affected countries. We are reminded of Hakim from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Iraq. He is working to protect cultural heritage sites from ISIS, preserving these important sites for the benefit of future generations. Our friend Huda from Sudan is raising awareness of the importance of girl’s education, giving young women a stronger voice in their home communities.

The Presidential Precinct is home to three U.S. Founding Fathers, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. Here they built friendships and convened to talk about nation-building, the rights of individuals, and the role of citizens in a democratic society. The Precinct is the proud home of two of America’s oldest and finest universities where truth is honored above all values. We are at the heart of public diplomacy, and the programs we host are among the United States’ most effective soft-power tools.

This situation is fluid, and some details remain uncertain. While there are legal challenges mounting in courts, we want to re-assure our friends, supporters, and present and future alumni in each of the countries affected by this executive order that we are and will remain as open and inclusive as the law allows. The Presidential Precinct strives to embrace the benefits of diversity, inclusion, and respect for differing beliefs. We work every day to help build a world in which all people can be free and valued for who they are as individuals; and where pluralism, economic opportunity and openness are respected and valued.

We will pursue every means available to us to safeguard our exchange participants, to reinstate exchanges with the countries affected, and to create a welcoming America for all of our exchange visitors.

The Presidential Precinct will continue to monitor and analyze the impact of the executive order, and will issue additional guidance as we assess any impacts on our programs or our wonderful alumni.

Sincerely,

 
James B. Murray, Jr.
Chairman
The Presidential Precinct

 
Neal Piper
Executive Director
The Presidential Precinct