The arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk highlight the vulnerability of US-based student non-citizens to the suspension or interruption of their human right to education. We urge all US-based students, researchers and academics who may face deportation because of their activism or immigration status to use the UC Davis Article 26 Backpack to organize, safely store and share their most important academic documents, research, and creative works.  Once safe-harbored, the materials are accessible from anywhere in the world and protected by California’s strong consumer and privacy laws. 

With over a decade of experience studying and addressing the needs of vulnerable and displaced university students from the Middle East, Central Africa, Afghanistan, and Southeast Asia — often fleeing authoritarian or dictatorial regimes — we now believe that the political climate in the United States will create conditions under which students facing deportation may not be able to access to their transcripts, diplomas, training credentials, research and creative works. Loss of that access will have an impact on their right to education, culture, and work. 

The UC Davis Backpack, which was established by a half-million dollar grant from the Ford Foundation and was funded, until a few weeks ago, by USAID, is purpose-built to support students in precisely this situation. It is used by over 5600 young people across the globe.  

Beginning today (01/14/2025) our team will begin a social-media information campaign for University of California students and will reach out to other student groups across the country. In the coming week they will announce a schedule of orientation and enrollment sessions, and be able to answer any questions about how to implement and use Backpack.

Backpack is a simple, easy-to-use and secure tool to protect among the most important elements of one's educational journey. 

Contact:  Keith David Watenpaugh, Professor and Director, UC Davis Human Rights Studies