The Academy of Certified Archivists Issues a Statement Opposing the Executive Order of January 27, 2017

February 21, 2017 — The Academy of Certified Archivists Issues a Statement Opposing the Executive Order of January 27, 2017

As an archival organization representing archivists internationally and seeking to expand its membership base, the Academy of Certified Archivists strongly opposes the Executive Order of January 27, 2017– and any similarly restrictive measures – banning immigrants and refugees to the United States from the Muslim-majority countries of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya Somalia, and Yemen, even for a temporary period. Our opposition is consistent with one of the purposes in our bylaws to “[d]evelop and administer a program of certification and certification maintenance for archivists in the United States and Internationally.” When an archivist, depending upon where he or she lives, is unable to actively participate in the professional archival work of collecting, preserving and providing access to the documentary heritage of the human experience or pursue an education with that goal in mind, then important qualifications of archival certification are similarly closed to these professionals and students. The travel required to give presentations and workshops, attend conferences, conduct research leading to publications, or continue their education may disqualify them from pursuing or maintaining archival certification, if this or a similar executive order is allowed to meet with success. With this in mind, the Academy of Certified Archivists is unwilling to allow this measure to go forward without expressing its strong opposition to it.