CPA Statement regarding the travel ban enacted by the U.S. President Donald Trump
The Canadian Philosophical Association is gravely concerned about the travel ban enacted by the United States via an Executive Order on January 27, 2017. The order, which blocks individuals from seven countries with Muslim majorities from entering the United States for 90 days, will unreasonably harm post-secondary research and teaching, both in Canada and in the United States, by preventing the free movement by researchers between these two countries. It will also affect the movement of researchers and experts from other countries, whose travel takes them through the United States, and undermine international research events held in the United States. The travel ban arbitrarily targets researchers and their families from the seven listed nations. Many philosophers residing in the United States will not be able to attend conferences held in Canada for fear of being unable to return to the United States without harsh or intrusive treatment. At the same time, many Canadian philosophers are choosing on grounds of conscience not to travel to the United States while the ban is in place. We agree with the American Philosophical Association that the ban is inconsistent with the free exchange of ideas and the values of our international philosophical research community. We stand with the American Philosophical Association and with other learned societies in Canada and around the world calling for the ban to be withdrawn.