Policy change on international students is misguided, say US universities and lawmakers

WASHINGTON: Several Congressmen and top educational institutions decried the policy change that will require international students who are in the United States with an F-1 visa to take at least one in-person course or else face the prospect of being deported. But the the State Department asserted that many international students who had planned to study this fall in the US may still have the opportunity to do so.

The State Department's statement comes a day after the new guideline created panic among international students, the largest number of whom come from China and India. Congressman Bennie Thompson, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, chairwoman of the Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee, said in a joint statement that the new policy will damage the economy, harm US institutions, and do nothing to improve America's safety or security.

"There is no apparent legitimate reason for the (Trump) administration's inflexibility toward international students attending colleges and universities that adopt ‘online-only’ policies – the Administration seems to just want them to leave,” the two lawmakers said. International students contribute billions of dollars to the US economy and barring them from our country will deprive Americans of badly needed income.

“We cannot allow President Trump to continue destroying jobs and cause needless suffering just to satisfy his anti-immigrant base. We oppose this reckless policy and the lasting harm it will cause to universities and communities across the country,” they said. Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne expressed concern that the decision will create more uncertainty and complexity for international students. “Our international students must be able to continue making progress toward completing their degrees, and as a university we intend to support them in doing so. We will be working with our peers and national associations to understand how best to accomplish that in the context of these new rules, as well as to urge the Administration to rethink its position,” he said.

Temporary Decision

The State Department, which issues visas to international students, however said the decision is temporary. “This will allow a mixture of both in-person and some online coursework to meet the requirements for nonimmigrant student status,” it said. This temporary accommodation provides greater flexibility for nonimmigrant students to continue their education in the United States, while also allowing for proper social distancing on open and operating campuses across America, the State Department said.

“International students will still have to obtain the appropriate visa and may still be subject to other visa processing or travel restrictions due to COVID-19. Students should check with the local US embassy or consulate for information specific to their country,” it said.

Students to monitor updates

In a statement, the Embassy of India Student Hub encouraged students to monitor their university's official channels for university/program specific information and to remain in contact with their university DSOs for additional questions. “We will issue updates in the coming days as we receive more clarity on this broadcast message,” it said.

Congresswoman Debbie Dengell urged the Department of Homeland Security to review its decision. “Removing these students due to circumstances beyond their control is senseless and concerning. There does not appear to be any public benefit to the US, it will harm the quality of education students receive because of the many logistical challenges, while not in the classroom many remain on campus and in the community contributing to educations and cultural experiences in many other ways, and many have already signed leases and paid tuition as well,” she said.

Online courses are safe and sensible

Among all the uncertainty, it's disturbing that the federal government would initiate removal proceedings for international students especially given it is a reversal of an earlier decision taken by the agency at the on-set of the pandemic, she said. “Online courses are safe and sensible ways for universities to protect their students while continuing to provide a quality education while scientists study the best way to ensure students can learn in a safe environment,” the Congresswoman said.

“With the high probability that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to make distance learning the predominant mode of instruction at colleges across the country, the rule change means that most of the estimated 1.1 million international students will be forced out of the country in September,” Chancellor Felix V Matis Rodriguez of the City University of New York said.

In a statement, he said that this misguided policy change also threatens to hurt higher education at a time when the nation’s universities are working hard to adjust to the dual health and economic crises caused by the pandemic.

“We are once again disappointed that our country’s leadership continues to restrict and reduce opportunities for those who seek them in the United States,” he said adding that he has instructed his administration to explore and pursue measures that would help these students remain in the country and continue their education at CUNY.

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