I posted this PSA a short while ago on my FaceBook page.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
To My Current and Former Students
America has long had a tradition of "equal protection under the law," meaning that every person in the United States is equal before the law. Since 1865, Article 14, Section 1 of the United States Constitution has explicitly stated that principle in unequivocal terms. While America often failed to live up to the principle in the 'Equal Protection' clause, its presence in the Constitution meant that citizens and residents could always attempt to seek legal relief when they received unequal treatment from any part of government.
We are now faced with a President-Elect Trump, a figure who has sworn, among other proposals, to 'register all Muslims living within the United States' and to bar entry to any Muslim. Donald Trump as the Chief Executive will be responsible for making sure that the laws (including equal protection) are faithfully executed. And yet Trump has sworn himself to the exact opposite, to treating people differently before the law, depending on their religion.
The Constitution is a mighty document, embodying various sacred principles like the separation of powers and the ability to evolve through the Amendment process. But, at the end of the day, the Constitution is only as good, only as powerful, as those entruted to execute its provisions.
It is thus with a heavy heart that I must advise all my current and former students to make plans to leave the United States before January 20, 2017, when Trump is inaugurated. If he can register Muslims, he can register Brazilians. If he can bar entry to Asians, he can bar entry to Europeans. If he can bar entry to Muslims, he can bar exit to anyone. In other words, your safety and security, your equality before the law, can now no longer be guaranteed. You can no longer rely on the Federal Government or its officials to safeguard your equality before the law.
There are many other terrifying possibilities from what Trump has said and proposed. But for my international students, it is important that you be able to rejoin your families and friends and not be trapped here in a land that is now ruled by whim and not by law. I must advise you to leave now. Perhaps there will come a time when you can return. I and many other Americans will be fighting to make that a reality. For now, though, prudence dictates that you leave while you still can leave.
To my former and current students, I bid you a fond 'adieu' (fancy vocabulary word from French that means 'Good Bye.'). English is a magnificent language and you will have other opportunities in more civilized places to study it. For now though, the United States is not one of those civilized places. And so it is best you leave now, while you can.