MASSACHUSETTS – In a challenge to the American administration’s ban, American and Canadian universities are opening their doors to welcome refugee and immigrant students, offering them full free scholarships.

According to reports published by The Hill, Wheaton President Dennis Hanno “argued the importance of allowing international students to study at US colleges and universities.”

“This new [immigration] policy implies that international students are neither needed nor wanted. This is false, and we must counter that divisive message,” he wrote in a January 31 statement to the school.

A Massachusetts liberal arts college also offered a full scholarship to a refugee fleeing war and violence.

In a message announcing the scholarship, Wheaton College President Dennis Hanno argued the importance of allowing international students to study at US colleges and universities,

“The current executive order on immigration, which was signed on Friday, January 27, endangers the broadly diverse learning environment that is essential to our mission,” Hanno said in a news release this week.

“This new policy implies that international students are neither needed nor wanted. This is false, and we must counter that divisive message,” he continued.

In Canada, the University of Calgary has announced waiving admission application fees for citizens of the seven countries affected by the US travel ban.

The move is meant to “ensure students have every opportunity to pursue or complete their studies,” officials said in a statement on Thursday.

“This includes new applicants and those who are currently in the U.S. who wish to transfer or continue their studies as a visiting student.”

The academia moves followed Donald Trump’s executive order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries came into effect.

The order temporarily bans entry to refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria.