Latest news with #UniversityofAlaskaAnchorage
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Rep. Liz Cheney, in Anchorage lecture event, gives kudos to Alaska Sen. Murkowski
Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, speaks on Thursday at an event an Anchorage event hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Alaska World Affairs Council. The event, held at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, was part of UAA's community lecture series. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, speaking at an Anchorage event on Thursday, had harsh words for much of her Republican Party but praise for a rare GOP member who, like her, is willing to criticize President Donald Trump: Alaska's senior U.S. senator. 'I can't be here in Alaska and not mention the incredible courage of Sen. Lisa Murkowski,' Cheney said near the start of her event, held at a packed theater in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. 'You see it almost every day. There are very few Republicans who will be consistently counted on to do the right thing. And she's one of a very small group,' Cheney said. The former U.S. House member from Wyoming – and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney – spoke at a lecture hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska World Affairs Council. She took questions from veteran journalist Elizabeth Arnold, who teaches at UAA. Like Murkowski, Cheney voted to impeach Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and opposed him in other ways. Unlike Murkowski, who was reelected in 2022 over a Trump-backed challenger, Cheney lost her seat in the GOP primary to a Trump loyalist, Harriet Hageman, who now represents Wyoming's single House district. That was after Cheney co-chaired the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot and Trump's role in it, and after she had been stripped of her GOP leadership role by fellow House Republicans because of her opposition to Trump's actions. She is aghast that Trump, now back in the White House, has pardoned those rioters, including those who attacked police officers – and that Republicans in office have gone along with those pardons. 'When you hear the Republicans, any Republicans, saying that they are the party that supports law enforcement, you know, please go back and look at the videos of Jan. 6,' Cheney said. Remind those Republicans that Trump watched the events unfold on television for three hours without trying to stop the riot, she said. 'He watched police officers get brutally beaten by people who were carrying his flag; they were doing it in his name … And then, when he came into office, he pardoned all of those people,' she said. The Republican Party as a whole — with a few exceptions like Murkowski – has betrayed its convictions and even the U.S. Constitution to become 'a personality cult' loyal only to Trump, Cheney said. Today's GOP is 'something we haven't seen in this country before,' she said. 'The party has walked away from the Constitution,' said the former House member, who noted that she grew up as a Republican and cast her first vote for President Ronald Reagan. Cheney spent much of her speech calling out House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders of Congress who she said have enabled Trump's attacks on the rule of law and other bad actions. 'The problem with Mike is that he's fundamentally dishonest,' she said. And they have enabled rank incompetence and corruption in the Trump administration, the most serious of which is Trump's attack on the rule of law. Voters should take action to counter the cult-like devotion that has given Trump and his administration 'carte blanche,' Cheney said. 'That's why it's crucially important that in 2026, the Republicans lose the majority in the House and the Senate,' she said. She also called on the audience and public at large to continue protesting Trump administration actions, writing letters to the editor, contacting members of Congress and state legislators and even consider running for office to replace bad officials. It was a message embraced by the event audience. Many of those attending Cheney's address had walked over to the theater after attending a May Day anti-Trump protest held a few blocks away on downtown Anchorage's Park Strip. Several times during the event, the audience erupted in applause and cheers. Cheney herself has continued to be politically active since losing her House seat. She started a political action committee and has been supporting candidates she believes will counter the Trump movement – most notably, former Vice President Kamala Harris, who wound up losing the 2024 presidential election. She wrote a book, titled 'Oath and Honor,' that details the confrontations she had with fellow congressional Republicans over the efforts to overthrow the 2020 election results. She has also been teaching at the University of Virginia and traveling the country to speak at events like that held Thursday in Anchorage. Returning to elective office remains a possibility, she said. 'I don't know if I will end up being a candidate again myself. But it's certainly not something that I'm ruling out,' she said. That statement was greeted with enthusiastic audience applause, and some follow-up back-and-forth quips to close the evening. 'Clearly, I should move here to Alaska,' Cheney said in response to the applause. 'We have ranked choice voting,' Arnold said. 'And you have one good senator,' Cheney replied. 'We have room for one more,' an audience member called out. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As Donald Trump eyes Greenland and Arctic resources, America's ambassadorship for the region goes unfilled
Nathaniel HerzNorthern Journal Five weeks before Election Day, at an evening ceremony at the office of the U.S. Department of State, America's first-ever Arctic ambassador was sworn into his new job. Barely 100 days later, on Jan. 20, Mike Sfraga resigned — departing his post, like other ambassadors, as Donald Trump took power. Now, Sfraga's position remains unfilled. And Alaskans and others tracking America's stance toward the Arctic are waiting to see when, or if, the new administration will offer a clear vision or plans for the region that the U.S., its allies and rivals are increasingly eying as a zone for commerce and military activity. 'It's feeling very quiet,' said Diane Hirshberg, who leads a research institute at University of Alaska Anchorage and is academic vice president at an international network of schools called University of the Arctic. 'We're just in this weird land of uncertainty.' At a recent working group meeting of an international commission called the Arctic Council, Hirshberg said, the American government representative shared nothing, "other than that the U.S. reserves the right to comment at a later date." Experts say that Trump's outspoken desire to annex Greenland makes clear that he's aware of the Arctic's growing strategic value. But they also say that his distrust of traditional European alliances and his targeting of research institutions risk undermining the nation's interests in the region. 'There are other nations questioning us,' Sfraga said at an Alaska legislative hearing this month. 'Every one of our allies in the North and elsewhere, they're questioning how committed we are.' Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who's long prodded the federal government to develop its Arctic policy, said she thinks the new administration appreciates the significance of the region for its natural resources and importance to American national security. But she said she's pushing for that awareness to be backed up with qualified personnel — new appointees to Arctic-focused positions like the ambassador job. 'At some of these Arctic conferences, I'm there," she said in an interview. "But the U.S. delegation has to be more than just Lisa Murkowski.' Former President Joe Biden created the Arctic ambassador position through an executive action, and it's not set out in law — a fact that Murkowski, via legislation she introduced earlier this year, hopes to change. She said she's also submitted names to the Trump administration to consider for the post and is concerned that if the decision is delayed, the new ambassador nominee could end up being a campaign donor chosen "as, kind of, a political favor." Murkowski said she'd love to see Sfraga reappointed to the position. Biden originally nominated Sfraga, an Alaskan geographer who'd worked at a think tank and in Alaska's university system, to the ambassadorship in early 2023. Murkowski recommended Sfraga for the post and lobbied for his confirmation. But it took more than 18 months for the U.S. Senate to take an up or down vote. Some Republican senators, led by Idaho Republican James Risch, criticized Sfraga's relationships with officials and institutions from China and Russia. Sfraga said in an email that filling his old post is in America's best interest. 'The United States requires a Senate-confirmed ambassador so we can inform, influence and appropriately lead Arctic-related issues and policies throughout the region, clearly articulate U.S. Arctic goals and objectives, and ensure our policies and efforts are coordinated and advanced at home,' he said. Asked whether he'd take the job back if chosen by Trump — as suggested by Murkowski — Sfraga thanked the senator for her 'unwavering support.' "It is now time to consider other opportunities to advance U.S. and allied partners' interests in the Arctic, and Alaska's unique role in the region's future," he said. Alaska's sole member of the U.S. House, Republican Nick Begich III, said in an emailed statement that an Arctic ambassador supports a strong presence in the region, 'which is vital for national security.' 'I will continue to work with the executive branch and members of the Alaska delegation to advocate for an Arctic policy that includes leadership staffing as a component of our national security strategy,' Begich said. The State Department, in an emailed statement to Northern Journal, did not directly answer a question about if and when the new administration plans to replace Sfraga. But it did say that the Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs 'remains funded and operational.' That's in contrast to the Wilson Center — a 55-year-old think tank that once employed Sfraga when he was the founding director of the center's Polar Institute. The center, which focuses on foreign policy, has been almost entirely shut down by the new administration, with more than 100 employees placed on leave and just a handful of congressionally mandated positions remaining, according to the New York Times. The Polar Institute's current director did not respond to a request for comment. At the U.S. Department of Defense, meanwhile, the administration has filled one top Arctic-focused position. Last month, Steven Schleien, a longtime department official, was named deputy assistant secretary for Arctic and global resilience — with responsibilities that include Arctic security, ocean issues and critical minerals. One other person that experts see as a potentially influential voice on the administration's Arctic policy is Julia Nesheiwat. Nesheiwat currently has no formal role in the administration. But she's a former homeland security advisor to Trump, a former member of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, and her husband, Mike Waltz, is Trump's national security advisor. Nesheiwat recently traveled with Waltz, Vice President J.D. Vance and other top administration officials to Greenland. She also held a meeting with Republican Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy at an energy conference in Texas last month. Murkowski said she's spoken about Arctic policy with Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and her former U.S. Senate colleague. She also sent the president and other top administration officials a letter last month outlining her Arctic-related priorities — including the appointment of a special presidential assistant focused on the region, and the creation of a new deputy assistant secretary for Arctic affairs at the State Department. Murkowski, who's publicly clashed with Trump at times, acknowledged that some in the new administration 'would love to deep-six anything that I might suggest.' 'But I know that you have people who are genuinely interested in advancing good policy,' she said. 'I think they're looking for suggestions.' This story original misidentified Julia Neisheiwat as a former national security advisor to Donald Trump; she is a former homeland security advisor. This piece was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter and news website. Subscribe here.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska, rich in petroleum, faces an energy shortage
In the state with the fourth-largest proven reserves of oil and gas in the U.S., there is a looming energy shortage. Above the Arctic Circle, oil producers on Alaska's North Slope send an average of 465,000 barrels of crude oil south each day for shipping to refineries and users around the country and the world. But in south-central Alaska – Anchorage and the surrounding region, home to 63% of the state's population – utility companies are warning they may not have enough natural gas from current sources to keep the power and heat on without interruption. As a professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage who studies the economics of natural resources, I can see this apparent contradiction has a straightforward cause but no simple solution. The North Slope region once produced nearly 2 million barrels of oil per day at its peak in the 1980s. Every barrel is transported via the 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to the port of Valdez, where it is loaded onto tanker ships. The state government collects significant taxes and royalties on oil production. For decades, oil revenue allowed the state to fund all government spending without imposing broad-based income, sales or property taxes. At the height of the oil boom, there was so much money that Alaska established a wealth fund, now valued at over US$80 billion, and began distributing dividends to every resident. But the Trans-Alaska Pipeline is designed to carry oil, not natural gas. A state law prevents producers from burning off excess gas, or flaring, as happens in many fields. With nowhere to send it, gas extracted from Alaska's oil fields is reinjected into the ground to boost well pressure and push more oil out. Alaska's gas reserves are significant. State estimates suggest the North Slope has about 35 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves. That's almost as much natural gas as the U.S. as a whole produced in 2023. But that is just the beginning: The North Slope also has the potential for another 200 trillion cubic feet that remains undiscovered. And improving technologies and techniques may be able to extract another 590 trillion cubic feet, according to the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., a company owned by the state of Alaska that is trying develop a project to extract and sell the state's natural gas. As oil production declines and prices remain uncertain, selling gas could provide a different stream of revenue for the state, potentially providing billions of dollars. For decades, there have been numerous proposals to develop Alaska's gas. State agencies and the petroleum industry have collectively spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this effort. The concept that's closest to reality is Alaska Gasline Development Corp.'s proposal to build a plant on the North Slope to remove gas impurities, a liquefaction plant near Anchorage that could export 20 million tons of liquefied gas each year – around a trillion cubic feet – and an 807-mile pipeline to connect the two. The cost is expected to be significant: The corporation's own estimate is that it would cost $44 billion. But that number was developed before the construction sector saw significant inflation in 2022. An engineering study due for release in late 2025 will provide a more updated figure. Alaskans remember that the Trans-Alaska Pipeline ended up costing 25% more than projected. Since his first day in office, President Donald Trump has touted this pipeline as part of efforts to expand the nation's production of fossil fuels. He told a joint session of Congress it was a near-ready project, with Japan and South Korea ready to invest 'trillions of dollars each.' In February 2025, he stood alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to announce a 'joint venture' to develop the pipeline project, but no specific details have been announced. There is a growing need to address Alaska's domestic energy shortfall. South-central Alaska relies on natural gas for more than 70% of its electric and heating needs. But the gas reserves closest to Anchorage, in the Cook Inlet, which have provided energy to the area since the 1960s, are dwindling, and prices are rising. In 2005, wholesale gas prices were $3.75 per 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas. By 2024, the price had more than doubled, to $8.75. By contrast, the rest of the U.S. has seen natural gas prices cut in half over that period, thanks in part to horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. In 2022, Hilcorp, the company responsible for roughly 85% of the Cook Inlet gas production, reported that by 2027 it might not be able to supply enough gas for utilities that serve the region. Solutions other than the pipeline are also slow and expensive. Local utilities estimate that improving energy efficiency and developing renewable power could reduce gas demand by around 10% over the next several years and by as much as 15% after a decade. But retrofitting the area's aging and energy-inefficient homes will not be fast or cheap. What remains for Alaska are two main options: get gas from the North Slope to Anchorage, or import liquefied gas from the global market. Building the pipeline could both meet the needs of Alaska's people and bring in money from global sales – though how much revenue depends on how global gas markets change over time and how competitive Alaska gas prices would be relative to other suppliers. Any delays from financial, legal, technical or environmental challenges would balloon costs. But if it succeeded, Anchorage-area customers could see prices drop as low as $2.23 per 1,000 cubic feet – a 75% drop from current prices and 40% lower than in 2005. The savings could significantly bolster the region's economy. Importing is a costly option. A study commissioned by the Alaska Legislature found that imported gas would cost $13.72 per 1,000 cubic feet. That's 60% more than current prices and especially burdensome for Alaska families and businesses, which already pay far higher energy bills than typical American customers. Beyond the economic questions, there's something symbolic at stake: the state's identity. Could a state synonymous with energy production become an energy importer? Many Alaskans see the prospect as an embarrassing paradox – akin to Hawaii importing pineapples or New Mexico importing green chiles. Alaska is not alone in grappling with the tension between energy self-sufficiency and economic efficiency. Across the U.S., states rich in resources have wrestled with the question of whether to prioritize local production or integrate into global markets. Texas produces more oil than any other state, yet it continues to import crude oil due to mismatches between its production and refining capacity. Shaped by globalization, few regions can truly isolate themselves from market forces. Energy production and consumption are increasingly interconnected, meaning pursuit of local self-sufficiency comes at a steep economic cost. That's the question facing Alaska: whether to invest in domestic infrastructure to maintain energy independence, or embrace the flexibility – and potentially lower cost – of global markets. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Brett Watson, University of Alaska Anchorage Read more: White House plans for Alaskan oil and gas face some hurdles – including from Trump and the petroleum industry Alaska on fire: Thousands of lightning strikes and a warming climate put Alaska on pace for another historic fire season Trump's push to control Greenland echoes US purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 Brett Watson receives funding from First National Bank Alaska to conduct research on the Alaska economy, including energy issues. He has previously received funding from Power the Future for work on Alaska mineral issues.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As Trump eyes Greenland and Arctic resources, America's ambassadorship for the region goes unfilled
Offshore oilfield service vessels sit docked in the city of Bergen in Norway, an Arctic nation that collaborates with the U.S. on military and other matters. (Photo by Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal) Five weeks before Election Day, at an evening ceremony at the office of the U.S. Department of State, America's first-ever Arctic ambassador was sworn into his new job. Barely 100 days later, on Jan. 20, Mike Sfraga resigned — departing his post, like other ambassadors, as Donald Trump took power. America's first Arctic ambassador was just confirmed weeks ago. Now he could be out of a job. Now, Sfraga's position remains unfilled. And Alaskans and others tracking America's stance toward the Arctic are waiting to see when, or if, the new administration will offer a clear vision or plans for the region that the U.S., its allies and rivals are increasingly eying as a zone for commerce and military activity. 'It's feeling very quiet,' said Diane Hirshberg, who leads a research institute at University of Alaska Anchorage and is academic vice president at an international network of schools called University of the Arctic. 'We're just in this weird land of uncertainty.' At a recent working group meeting of an international commission called the Arctic Council, Hirshberg said, the American government representative shared nothing, 'other than that the U.S. reserves the right to comment at a later date.' Experts say that Trump's outspoken desire to annex Greenland makes clear that he's aware of the Arctic's growing strategic value. But they also say that his distrust of traditional European alliances and his targeting of research institutions risk undermining the nation's interests in the region. 'There are other nations questioning us,' Sfraga said at an Alaska legislative hearing this month. 'Every one of our allies in the North and elsewhere, they're questioning how committed we are.' Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who's long prodded the federal government to develop its Arctic policy, said she thinks the new administration appreciates the significance of the region for its natural resources and importance to American national security. But she said she's pushing for that awareness to be backed up with qualified personnel — new appointees to Arctic-focused positions like the ambassador job. 'At some of these Arctic conferences, I'm there,' she said in an interview. 'But the U.S. delegation has to be more than just Lisa Murkowski.' Former President Joe Biden created the Arctic ambassador position through an executive action, and it's not set out in law — a fact that Murkowski, via legislation she introduced earlier this year, hopes to change. She said she's also submitted names to the Trump administration to consider for the post and is concerned that if the decision is delayed, the new ambassador nominee could end up being a campaign donor chosen 'as, kind of, a political favor.' Murkowski said she'd love to see Sfraga reappointed to the position. Biden originally nominated Sfraga, an Alaskan geographer who'd worked at a think tank and in Alaska's university system, to the ambassadorship in early 2023. Murkowski recommended Sfraga for the post and lobbied for his confirmation. But it took more than 18 months for the U.S. Senate to take an up or down vote. Some Republican senators, led by Idaho Republican James Risch, criticized Sfraga's relationships with officials and institutions from China and Russia. Sfraga said in an email that filling his old post is in America's best interest. 'The United States requires a Senate-confirmed ambassador so we can inform, influence and appropriately lead Arctic-related issues and policies throughout the region, clearly articulate U.S. Arctic goals and objectives, and ensure our policies and efforts are coordinated and advanced at home,' he said. Asked whether he'd take the job back if chosen by Trump — as suggested by Murkowski — Sfraga thanked the senator for her 'unwavering support.' 'It is now time to consider other opportunities to advance U.S. and allied partners' interests in the Arctic, and Alaska's unique role in the region's future,' he said. Alaska's sole member of the U.S. House, Republican Nick Begich III, said in an emailed statement that an Arctic ambassador supports a strong presence in the region, 'which is vital for national security.' 'I will continue to work with the executive branch and members of the Alaska delegation to advocate for an Arctic policy that includes leadership staffing as a component of our national security strategy,' Begich said. The State Department, in an emailed statement to Northern Journal, did not directly answer a question about if and when the new administration plans to replace Sfraga. But it did say that the Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs 'remains funded and operational.' That's in contrast to the Wilson Center — a 55-year-old think tank that once employed Sfraga when he was the founding director of the center's Polar Institute. The center, which focuses on foreign policy, has been almost entirely shut down by the new administration, with more than 100 employees placed on leave and just a handful of congressionally mandated positions remaining, according to the New York Times. The Polar Institute's current director did not respond to a request for comment. At the U.S. Department of Defense, meanwhile, the administration has filled one top Arctic-focused position. Last month, Steven Schleien, a longtime department official, was named deputy assistant secretary for Arctic and global resilience — with responsibilities that include Arctic security, ocean issues and critical minerals. One other person that experts see as a potentially influential voice on the administration's Arctic policy is Julia Nesheiwat. Nesheiwat currently has no formal role in the administration. But she's a former homeland security adviser to Trump and a former member of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, and her husband, Mike Waltz, is Trump's national security advisor. Nesheiwat recently traveled with Waltz, Vice President J.D. Vance and other top administration officials to Greenland. She also held a meeting with Republican Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy at an energy conference in Texas last month. Murkowski said she's spoken about Arctic policy with Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and her former U.S. Senate colleague. She also sent the president and other top administration officials a letter last month outlining her Arctic-related priorities — including the appointment of a special presidential assistant focused on the region, and the creation of a new deputy assistant secretary for Arctic affairs at the State Department. Murkowski, who's publicly clashed with Trump at times, acknowledged that some in the new administration 'would love to deep-six anything that I might suggest.' 'But I know that you have people who are genuinely interested in advancing good policy,' she said. 'I think they're looking for suggestions.' Nathaniel Herz welcomes tips at natherz@ or (907) 793-0312. This article was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter from Herz. Subscribe at this link.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Alaska reports four international students have had visas revoked without notice
Students exit the University of Alaska Anchorage consortium library on Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) The federal government has revoked the visas of four international students at the University of Alaska Anchorage, without explanation or prior notice to students or the university, university officials said on Monday. 'This week, we learned that the federal government has revoked visas for four individuals affiliated with UAA — one current student and three recent graduates in post-graduation training — without prior notice,' said UA President Pat Pitney in a university wide email on Monday. No students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks or University of Alaska Southeast have been affected to date, Pitney said. She said university staff are monitoring immigration records daily, and working to support students. She urged affected students to contact international student services offices of their campus for support. 'These immigration issues do not impact a student's academic standing at UA,' Pitney added. 'Our international students and scholars are vital members of our community, and we remain fully committed to supporting their success.' The federal government did not provide the student or university a specific reason for the visa cancelations, according to Jonathon Taylor, university director of public affairs. When asked if any of the students were detained by the Alaska Department of Corrections, a spokesperson said they were not able to immediately respond by Monday afternoon. Students can generally stay in the U.S. but can no longer leave and re-enter without applying for another visa. If there are changes to a student's immigration status, then the government is required to provide a reason, said Nicholas Olano, an Anchorage-based immigration attorney with Nations Law Group. 'The question is, are the regulations being followed here? And that is what needs to be looked at carefully. Are these people giving proper notice?' he said. Olano said usually an individual must be convicted of a crime for immigration status to be affected, but under the Trump administration it can be for simply an arrest, or allegations of misconduct. 'What is happening now is by all means extreme,' he said. Over 1,000 international students have had visas revoked at over 180 colleges and universities, according to a national tracking project by Inside Higher Ed, a news site. Several students have filed lawsuits arguing the government has failed to justify canceling visas or terminating immigration status, and denied them due process. Many cases are related to protests or statements in connection with the Israel-Hamas war. An executive order Trump issued early in his term cited 'an unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism and violence,' and called on the government to use 'all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence.' Last week, the Trump administration announced it would screen immigrants' social media for what it termed 'antisemitism.' However, students and advocates nationally have said many students are targeted for their involvement in peaceful protests to support Palestinians affected by the ongoing war, and the Trump administration's actions target First Amendment protected rights to freedom of speech. Olano said it's a 'huge difference' between participating in a protest and a criminal infraction leading to a notice to appear before an immigration judge and be placed in deportation proceedings, but he advised students to take extra caution. 'It's horrible; I'm having to say this because I think that the First Amendment, the Constitution, covers every single individual that is in the United States presently,' he said. 'But at this moment, you should not exercise your right to free speech because you can have consequences. That's the most un-American thing ever. But I'm saying it.' Olano advised students to contact an immigration attorney, adding that legal resources and information are available by contacting the ACLU of Alaska. In addition to the effect on international students, Olano expressed concern for the state's economy and future. 'This is going to hurt Alaska in the long run,' he said. 'In the short term, too. We're going to see less students that bring money from their countries to spend here at the universities. Because international students pay significantly higher tuition fees than the local students, and those monies are going to stop coming in. We are going to lose prospective employees for companies. And with all that is going on, Alaska is going to be hurting even more for people.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
