Presidents’ Alliance Condemns Forthcoming ICE Policy That Would Ban International Students Enrolled in Online Courses

PRESIDENTS’ ALLIANCE CONDEMNS FORTHCOMING ICE POLICY THAT WOULD BAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ONLINE COURSES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7, 2020

Contact: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org) 

Washington, D.C.—Yesterday, in spite of a rebounding COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued guidance indicating it would issue a regulation in the coming weeks that would expel international students enrolled in online-only courses for Fall 2020. Under the guidance, international students enrolled in online-only courses would have to transfer to a higher education institution that offered hybrid or in-person courses or else would be subject to deportation.

Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, stated: “At a time when COVID-19 cases are steadily increasing throughout the United States, this guidance serves only to undermine international student educational attainment and harm our nation’s ability to attract and retain global talent. Troublingly, the forthcoming rule would unduly pressure colleges and universities–already experiencing historic fiscal strains and uncertainty–to prematurely open in-person courses or else risk losing invaluable international student enrollments and contributions. We call on ICE to reverse course and provide greater flexibility; and for Congress, through forthcoming appropriations or legislation, to direct the reversal of this problematic and harmful policy.”

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