International Travel Letter

July 7, 2025

Dear LMU Community,

I would like to reaffirm Loyola Marymount University’s unwavering commitment to our international students, scholars, faculty, and staff. As President Poon recently expressed in his letter, our international community is an essential part of what makes LMU vibrant, diverse, and strong.

In recent months, colleges and universities across the nation — including LMU — have experienced troubling developments impacting international members of our community. These include reports of visa revocations, unexpected changes in student status through the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and executive actions aimed at specific universities.

I want to assure you that LMU is actively monitoring these developments. We are working closely with legal experts, peer institutions, and immigration advisors to understand the implications and respond appropriately.

Our Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS), in partnership with Human Resources, is in direct communication with impacted individuals to offer personalized guidance and support. In addition, our Global Safety and Security Office continues to provide 24/7 assistance for international students, faculty, staff, and those traveling abroad on university business.

To support the entire LMU community, we have convened a cross-campus International Travel Task Force that has developed resources and guidance for our campus community. These are available through a comprehensive FAQ page on LMU’s Travel Resource website. The page provides updates and advice related to international travel, immigration enforcement, privacy protections, and more.

We strongly encourage all members of our international and immigrant community — including permanent residents, faculty, and staff — to explore these resources. The FAQ page also includes contact information for offices ready to support you during this uncertain time.

I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge and commend the hard work, dedication, and collaborative spirit of the International Travel Task Force. In particular, I want to express my sincere appreciation to co-chairs Csilla Samay and Cynthia Orms for their exceptional leadership and commitment. The task force’s commitments have ensured that our international community will remain informed and supported as guidance and policies develop.

In the face of these challenges, we ask every member of the LMU community to reach out, show solidarity, and reaffirm that every Lion belongs here. As President Poon has compassionately shared with us: together, LMU will continue to be the light the world needs.

With care and commitment,

Kat Weaver, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost