Harvard and MIT sue Trump administration over measure that does not allow foreign students to only take courses online

(CNN) - Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued the Trump government on Wednesday for their guidance not to allow foreign students to take courses online alone this fall semester.

Harvard announced earlier this week that all courses will be taken online, even for students living on campus. In a statement provided to CNN, the university said the orientation will affect approximately 5,000 international students.

MIRA: International students may have to leave the US if their universities decide to teach only online classes

“The order fell without warning, his cruelty was only overcome by his recklessness. It appears that it was purposely designed to pressure colleges and universities to open their classrooms on campus for in-person instruction this fall, disregarding concerns for the health and safety of students, instructors, and others, ”said Harvard President Larry Bacow said in a statement. "This comes at a time when the United States has set daily records for the number of new infections, with more than 300,000 new cases reported since July 1."

Visa requirements for students have always been strict and it is prohibited to come to the US to take courses online only. ICE kept that ban on its targeting, while providing some flexibility for hybrid models, meaning a combination of online and in-person classes.

In a frequently asked question published by the agency, DHS reasoned that "all students scheduled to study at a US institution in the fall will be able to do so, although some must study abroad if their presence is not necessary for personal classes in the United States" .

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, seeks to block the measure, arguing that it violates the Administrative Procedures Act.

International students seeking degrees in the United States will have to leave the country or risk deportation if their universities switch to teaching only online, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) announced Monday. .

The measure may affect thousands of foreign students who go to the United States to attend universities or participate in training programs, as well as non-academic or vocational studies.

Universities across the country are beginning to make the decision to transition to online courses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. At Harvard, for example, all course instruction will be delivered online, even for students who live on campus. For international students, that opens the door for them to have to leave the United States.

"There is so much uncertainty. It's very frustrating, ”said Valeria Mendiola, 26, a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. "If I have to go back to Mexico, I can go back, but many international students just can't."

In a press release Monday, ICE said students who are under certain visas "cannot take a full load of online courses and stay in the United States," adding: "The United States Department of State will not issue visas. Students enrolled in schools and / or programs that are completely online during the fall semester will not be allowed by US Customs and Border Protection to enter the United States. ”

The agency suggested that students currently enrolled in the United States consider other measures, such as transferring to schools with in-person classes. There is an exception for universities that use a hybrid model, such as a combination of online and classroom classes.

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