Editorial

Editorial statement regarding recent policies from the Trump Administration

The Trump Administration recently issued an Executive Order entitled, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” (dated January 27, 2017; since struck down by the federal court) and separately, implemented new immigration policies, without precluding the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

While we recognize that it is important for a nation to take measures to protect its citizens from potential harm, EDI Journal is concerned with the need to ensure that all national security and social policies do not unfairly discriminate against individuals because of their national origin, country of birth, race or ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender expression, and other forms of individual differences.

As a community of scholars committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion, we are concerned that these recently enacted policies will reverse societal advances achieved through early human and civil rights efforts. As teachers and researchers, we are concerned that these policies will restrict academic freedom, the scientific endeavour, and our students’ education. As fellow human beings, we are also concerned with the impact of these policies on the stigmatization, well-being, and access to opportunities for those who are directly and indirectly affected.

We stand with our academic colleagues from around the world in asking the Trump Administration to reconsider its policies. We applaud those who took a stance, signed petitions, and personally assisted those in need during these troubling times. We encourage our contributors, readers, and supporters to actively research, write, and expose inequalities and to advance the equality of opportunity, the valuing of diversity, and the pursuit of social inclusion for everyone.

EDI Journal is organizing a special issue on “borders” in conjunction with the 10th Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference (Brunel University, UK) to offer a forum for scholars to share their voice and work in relation to the policies enacted in the USA, Britain’s exit from the EU, and other recent events. We especially welcome your submissions to this important special issue.

Editorial Team

Eddy S. Ng, Dalhousie University, Editor-in-Chief

Erica French, Queensland University of Technology, Associate Editor

Julia Nentwich, University of St Gallen, Associate Editor

Nceku Nyathi, University of Cape Town, Associate Editor

Christina Stamper, Western Michigan University, Associate Editor

Ahu Tatli, Queen Mary University of London, Associate Editor

Claartje Vinkenburg, VU Amsterdam, Associate Editor