Lawton is a small place. Cameron University located here has almost 200-300 international students. On campus jobs at Cameron is a most difficult thing to find, and are possibly never available. Students have no alternatives except working outside for their tuition and expenses.
Marcella Gustafson , the international student advisor has seen in the past also that many international student working in Mc donalds, Luigis , Shopping centres etc. She did not take any steps . But now she called the employers on about her students and sent all the student the following email. How do all the international students about the action taken by such advisor? Its sure that most of the International student from Nepal cannot rely on their parents for expenses except on their first semester. I would think it would be the best way if non of the incoming freshmans come to this university and students now enrolled here should manke their option about transferring to other universities.

Hello Students,



It has come to my attention that some of our international students are involved in illegal employment. This is coming from several sources. You are not only risking deportation and a $15,000 fine and a 10-year bar, you are risking our entire international student program at Cameron University. This is very serious and not to be taken lightly! Also if you sign a form for a credit card or employment, etc and indicate you are a U.S. citizen or a Resident, you risk a deportation, a $15,000 fine, and a life time bar for re-entry. The same if you indicate that you are not here on a visa. Do you really want to take these risks? It is never a good time to participate in illegal activity, but with the sweeping pending changes in immigration laws, it will become more likely that you will be caught. I am not the only one that can report illegal employment. Anyone who sees you working and knows you are an F-1 student without authorization to work off campus can report you. You must take responsibility to maintain your F-1 status. It wasn’t too long ago ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) was down here looking for a student. Don’t think they will not find you in Lawton , OK.



Please, please take this warning seriously!! I would hate for any student to be deported. If you really need to work, you must apply for economic hardship in this office. Instructions are available on our website or the international office. You must be able to prove your economic situation has changed drastically since you entered the U.S. You must also have attended one academic year before being eligible to apply. There is a fee involved. There is no guaranteed that DHS will approve the authorization, and if they do not, they will not refund your money. If they do, they will issue you an EAD card (Employment Authorization Document) with your picture on it and the dates when the employment is effective (1 year). Some of our students have applied and been authorized employment.



Marcella Gustafson

International Student Admissions Coordinator



Cameron University

215 North Shepler

2800 W Gore Blvd

Lawton, OK 73505



Phone: 580-591-8019/580-581-2838

Fax: 580-581-5416



Website: www.cameron.edu/admissions/international

I do not see how this is an attack. The law does exist and she does have a point. From her point of view, I would say she is doing the right thing by informing all the International Students of the consequences they can face if they do get caught.

well dude it's about time you guys move out of that little town and head out to a city.

Mr.August she might not have anymore international students left if she does....and the way i see it she might lose her job in the process...

One more thing, She did not let any student transfer from this university. SHE IS SAYING THE OTHER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISOR , WHERE THE STUDENT WISH TO TRANSFER THAT THE STUDENT IS ILLEGAL.

She does not want any student to transfer out.

Wow, now that's something I haven't heard of before. I really don't know what to say to that... whoever are the students affected by this, i feel sorry for them.

on what grounds?? she has no right to hold anyone from transfering...unless she wants to deport you guys or something as far as i know

Well there are no grounds on which she can hold them, but if she notifies the new school that they are illegal, they will not be accepted where they wish to transfer... How do you get around that? I am sure there is a way though... and yeah like you said lurey, unless she wants to deport them or something...

Calm down. She is just doing her job. It's a good thing she sent out a cautionary email. It would've been an attack if she just went out and reported everybody without any warning.

It is unfortunate but that's how the situation is nowadays with all this debate about illegal employment.

i understand that it's her job to send out the warning email but my argument is that she can't stop a student from transfering to a different institution if he/she pleases to do so... seems like she is creating a job security for herself by prohibiting the international students to transfer..just my thought

She prohibited some international students working on campus to work 40/hrs per week in summer. Isn't she really giving trouble to students ?She said they could only work 20/hrs per week if the student is enrolled for atleast 3 credit hour for summer classes.

The e-mail she sent to the students is an awareness of consequences and risk involved. I won't say its an attack, she is doing her job. But if its true that she is not letting students to get transfer, i think she just crossed the line. She is on her own in this thing, cause getting transferred from one school to other is totally upon the wish of a student.

from what i know ...back when i was in college it was okay for an international student to work 40hrs a week on campus during summer time provided they had taken at least 1 credit summer class... however i do not know if the laws have changed regarding the work specification for the international students, in the event that it has not there should be no problem...and from what you have told me i think this international advisor is just trying to give you guys a hard time. if you can talk to an immigration lawyer or search online for help. i would suggest USCIS.gov or Murthy.com

She should know that her students are STILL working in Ocean city, Maryland; Boston, Houston; Dallas and many places in summer as some stayed in Lawton OK. She should travel to Edmund OK , where all the International students fill up the positions for entire fast food, gas station and others and their international advisor do not care. We know our friends in other universities are still working and never had this problem. The previous International advisor in the same college (Cameron) did not even care when her order was taken by an International student at Mcdonalds.

"Attack" is not the right word for her actions. We all know as foreign students that we re not allowed to work off-campus. When I did that, I was aware of that fact. It's a different thing we have to do it. She is doing her job.

Time to move to bigger cities, as someone else suggested, if possible and there are plenty of them. I don't think laying blame on the advisor will do you any good, especially in small cities where everyone knows everyone.

It wouldn't be too far beyond the boundaries of realm that someone in the town might actually report you guys to ICE.

She should be able to give oncampus job or other alternatives

Attack is the word used when she started stooping students from being transfer. What I think is, it is a right of student to find their college and to get transfer.

I agree with you om that point. She has no right to stop students from transferring to other colleges.

Ist of all the colege is responsible for its foreign students. So its their duty to inform you of the laws both local and federal. So that email is to cover herself saying she did warn you guys(she is supposed to alert INS of any unlawful activities).

The other point about transfering .... SHE HAS NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE IF YOU WANT TO TRANSFER TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL. But you do need to get a acceptance letter before you can transfer though. If they are holding your transcripts or something like that because you did not pay your tutions is another thing. If the bills are payed and you want to leave... THEY CANNOT STOP YOU.

Oh yeah you need to get a letter saying you are accepted and another I-20 from a different college. They cannot hold you hostage after that.