Days after United States military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, Penn contacted students from Venezuela to acknowledge the unfolding \u201ccrisis\u201d and offer academic and wellness resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On Jan. 6, the College of Arts and Sciences\u2019 CaseNet team, which supports students facing academic difficulty, emailed Venezuelan students regarding University-wide support services. The messages, obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian, listed the contact information for multiple on-campus offices and asked students to confirm their safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur thoughts go out to you, your family, and all who have been affected by this crisis,\u201d the CaseNet team\u2019s Jan. 6 message read. The email also included the phone numbers for Penn\u2019s Student Health and Counseling, the University Chaplain\u2019s Office, Student Financial Services, and other support services on campus.<\/p>\n
In a statement to the DP, a CaseNet spokesperson described the team as a student-focused \u201cacademic support system\u201d comprised of \u201cadvisors who help students navigate their courses while dealing with difficult situations, including global events such as natural disasters, international conflict, and others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penn\u2019s International Student and Scholar Services also sent Jan. 6 emails expressing support for Venezuelan students.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognize that this may be a stressful time, particularly for those who are far from family and loved ones,\u201d ISSS wrote in an email obtained by the DP. \u201cOur team, in collaboration with colleagues across the University, is available to help you manage your academic responsibilities and navigate the broader impact of these events.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to ISSS Executive Director Rodolfo Altamirano, the emails were sent to \u201cstudents for whom the information was most likely to be relevant, rather than as a broad campus-wide communication.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cISSS regularly monitors global and national developments that may have implications for international students and scholars,\u201d Altamirano wrote in a statement to the DP. \u201cWhen situations arise that could create uncertainty or concern, we weigh whether proactive communication may be helpful to ensure students are aware of available resources and pathways for support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Altamirano clarified that while ISSS collaborates with partners across the University, it issues specific communications within its \u201cscope and responsibility to provide immigration-related guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n
ISSS previously advised<\/a> students against traveling to several countries subject to expanded federal travel restrictions, including Venezuela.<\/p>\n \u201cIn these situations, ISSS both shares relevant University resources and provides direct advising and support,\u201d Altamirano added.<\/p>\n The University\u2019s messages followed 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump\u2019s Jan. 3 announcement that U.S. forces conducted a large-scale operation in Venezuela resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were transported to New York to face federal charges.<\/p>\n In a Jan. 3 social media post<\/a>, Pennsylvania State Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) described the \u201cattack\u201d and \u201cabduction\u201d by the United States as \u201ccriminal acts of terror,\u201d and called for Trump\u2019s impeachment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pennsylvania State Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia) also described<\/a> the operation as an \u201cobvious violation of international law.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement to the DP, Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier \u2014 whose district includes Penn and University City \u2014 similarly criticized the action taken by the Trump administration.<\/p>\n \u201cEight days into 2026, we\u2019re already seeing increased corruption and instability,\u201d Gauthier wrote. \u201cTrump\u2019s conduct is un-American, antidemocratic, and endangers American lives.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n