Hi All - Western University has a program for those impacted by the US research melt down. There is a pretty friendly environment here for open hardware - and you have a friend here already in engineering 
More details: Doctoral Excellence Award - Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - Western University
Applicants must:
- Be studying at, have received an offer from, or have had an offer rescinded by a doctoral program at an American university ranked on the Top 100 QS Top Universities or the Top 100 Times Higher Education (THE) lists.
- Meet the admission requirements of the intended research-based doctoral program at Western University.
- Be of any nationality.
As one of Canada’s top research-intensive institutions, Western University delivers world-class doctoral education with over $267 million in annual research funding, and more than 50 doctoral programs spanning every discipline.