180 universities litigate rule barring foreign students if colleges go online-only

[struggle4progress]

Jacob Solis
July 10th, 2020 - 5:19pm

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is among 180 universities to sign onto an amicus brief Friday supporting a lawsuit seeking to stop the Trump Administration from forcing foreign students to leave the country should their classes move online-only amid the pandemic.

The lawsuit, spearheaded by Harvard and MIT, accuses ICE of acting without the consideration for the health and safety of students and staff at universities nationwide. Friday’s amicus brief was filed by the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, on behalf of the 180 institution signatories.

With weeks to go before the fall semester, the lawsuit also charges that the move leaves little time for either students or institutions to change months of planning related to the resumption of classes.

“By all appearances, ICE’s decision reflects an effort by the federal government to force universities to reopen in-person classes, which would require housing students in densely packed residential halls, notwithstanding the universities’ judgment that it is neither safe nor educationally advisable to do so, and to force such a reopening when neither the students nor the universities have sufficient time to react to or address the additional risks to 5 the health and safety of their communities,” the lawsuit read. “The effect—and perhaps even the goal—is to create as much chaos for universities and international students as possible” ...

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/unlv-among-180-universities-joining-litigation-targeting-trump-admin-over-rule-barring-foreign-students-from-us-if-colleges-go-online-only

[struggle4progress]

1. A really cruel move

7/9/2020, 1:08AM
BY MAYDHA DEVARAJAN

Rafaela Bayas didn’t intend on returning to Ecuador in 2020. After her spring study abroad program in Scotland and summer internship in Charleston, the rising senior planned to move into her house in Chapel Hill for the school year.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused her spring program to end early, and with the Trump administration’s European travel ban, Bayas was forced to return to her home country. Now, she said she’s not sure if she’ll be able to come back to UNC’s campus at all ...

On July 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced changes to temporary exemptions for students on F-1 and M-1 visas taking online classes in the fall because of the pandemic. Under the exemptions, students who are taking an entirely remote course load are not allowed to remain in the country, and if they do not leave or take measures like transferring to another school with in-person classes, they face potential deportation.

Following the announcement, Harvard University and MIT have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration for the new guidance. Several other institutions have since announced plans to to support international students through in-person class options ...

https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2020/07/international-student-cancellation-0708

[struggle4progress]

2. Students, instructors at Pitt want final say

Open letter signed by 900 students says international students should not be, in effect, pawns
BILL SCHACKNER
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Unease among instructors and students about returning to campus this fall already was on the rise at some universities as COVID-19 cases surged weeks before the semester is due to begin ...

The letter to Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher, Provost Ann Cudd and Anantha Shekhar, chair of the university’s Healthcare Advisory Group, says the federal policy change, in effect, is pitting the well-being of one student group against the campus as a whole.

It "forces us into a false binary: either guarantee everyone’s health by holding online classes but deport all international students, or protect all international students by having in-person classes but jeopardize everyone’s health," the letter states ...

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/07/10/International-students-ICE-immigration-Pitt-COVID-19-faculty-open-letter-university-deport/stories/202007100112

[struggle4progress]

3. WA: Area colleges pledge to support international students

UPDATED: Fri., July 10, 2020
By Chad Sokol

... The rules are “cruel and oblivious to the reality of the pandemic,” wrote UW President Ana Marie Cauce.

“Inappropriate and inhumane,” wrote Gonzaga President Thayne McCulloh.

“Heartless,” wrote EWU President Mary Cullinan.

“Unjust and damaging,” wrote WSU President Kirk Schulz and five other administrators ...

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/jul/10/area-colleges-pledge-to-support-international-stud/