The president of a local Christian university's Student Council has suddenly found himself affected by the United State's decision to ban incoming travel of passport holders of seven countries.

President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on Friday, January 27, 2017, that has temporarily banned nationals of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, from entering the United States. Syrians are currently banned indefinitely from entering the country.

Meant to protect the country from terrorists entering, the Executive Order has had wide-ranging effects.

Graduation requirements became a concern

For Bardia Salimkhani, president of the Student Council at Providence University College, it means requirements for his graduation are in jeopardy of going unfulfilled. Salimkhani is an aviation major, and part of the graduation requirements of the program is a long trip through the United States. The trip also helps program graduates obtain their commercial license, fulfilling multiple requirements for that license, including a 300 nautical mile cross-country flight with two stops, and 30 hours of flight time. Salimkhani points out that the trip also helps with pilots learning about USAmerican airspace, and Customs entry.

Now, because of the travel ban, Salimkhani is unable to participate in the trip that was set to begin March 1, 2017.

"(The school) is trying the best they can to accommodate the situation. It was so unexpected. At first, I saw a big risk (of not being able to graduate) but after talking with Providence, and the amount of help and input they're putting into it, I definitely feel better about it now," Salimkhani said.

School speaks out

Providence released a statement late Monday, January 30, 2017, speaking out against the Executive Order.

"Providence is deeply troubled by the recent U.S. Executive Order temporarily preventing people from seven countries from entering the United States. We recognize the sovereignty of the United States to act in keeping with its own interests, but as a multicultural campus in Canada, this temporary travel ban affects our students," the statement said.

"We are also concerned that many students in Canada and around the world—students like Bardia—are being painted with a single brush of suspicion and fear. As a Christian academic community in the evangelical tradition, we strive to exemplify the gospel of grace by upholding the dignity of, showing respect to and serving all people regardless of race, religion or culture. One of our goals is to eliminate racial and cultural prejudice."

Providence President Dr. David Johnson said, "It appears that a decision was made to institute a temporary travel ban without taking into account the full ramifications for partner countries. Our hope is that this ban will be reversed."

"Inconvenient, but others are worse off"

For Salimkhani, the travel ban, possibly not being able to graduate, and wasted money on visa applications, "was an inconvenience," he said. "But at the same time, thinking of all those people who are separated from their families, or much worse situations that they might be at right now because of this ban, it's frustrating."

"It looks like something that was done without a lot of thought. I hope that it's reversed."