On Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that foreign students who are pursuing degrees in the US will have to leave the country or risk deportation if their universities switch to online-only courses.
The move may affect thousands of international students who come to America to attend universities or participate in training programs, as well as vocational or non-academic studies.
Universities in the country are beginning to make the decision to transition to online courses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, at Harvard, all course instruction will be delivered online, including for students who live on the campus. For foreign students, that opens the door to them having to leave the US.
ICE said in a news release on Monday that students who fall under certain visas “may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States,” adding, “The U.
S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States.”
ICE also suggested that students currently enrolled in the US consider other measures, like transferring to schools with in-person setup. There’s an exception for universities using a hybrid model, such as a mix of in-person and online classes.
Larry Bacow, Harvard University President said in a statement Monday evening that “we are deeply concerned that the guidance issued today by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement imposes a blunt, one-size-fits-all approach to a complex problem giving international students, particularly those in online programs, few options beyond leaving the country or transferring schools.
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He continued, “The guidance…undermines the thoughtful approach taken on behalf of students by so many institutions, including Harvard, to plan for continuing academic programs while balancing the health and safety challenges of the global pandemic.”
“We will work closely with other colleges and universities around the country to chart a path forward,” Bacow said.
The Trump administration has made a litany of changes to the US immigration system, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in barring swaths of immigrants from coming to the US.
While students might have the option to transfer to a university offering in-person courses, it might be difficult to come by continued concerns over coronavirus. Some schools have announced plans to bring students back but in shorten semesters, as well as cancel nearly all in-person classes through the semester.