In today’s sharply divided Supreme Court decision, Justice Anthony Kennedy’s thoughtful comments deserve special attention. He rightly observed that America cannot count on judges to correct every wrong done by its government, and that other branches must step forward to ensure "that our Government remains committed always to the liberties the Constitution seeks to preserve and protect, so that freedom extends outward, and lasts."
America’s ideals demand that every official and every citizen respect fully the freedom of religion. Moreover, our educational, scientific, economic, and artistic advances depend on our continued ability to attract extraordinarily talented people from all over the world who bring skills and insights that enhance this nation and our society. The travel ban executive order inhibits this free flow of scholars and ideas and sends a chilling message not only to promising and law-abiding individuals from the affected regions, but also to students and scholars from around the world who want to contribute to an open and welcoming society.
Princeton University will continue to fully and vigorously support our international students, faculty and staff, who are a vital and integral part of our University community. We are proud to welcome talent from around the world and will defend the vital role that immigration plays at Princeton, in higher education and in our country.