Success: International Students Avoid Deportation During Pandemic

Target: William F. Lee, Attorney and Fellow for Harvard University

Goal: Thank Harvard University and MIT for pushing to block ICE’s policy to deport international students

The Trump administration has revoked its new policy to deport international students whose classes will be online in the fall, to the celebration of universities and students across the nation. The plan to suspend visas for students with online classes was met with public backlash and objections. Signers of this ForceChange petition joined in the outcry against this harmful policy.

International students participate in the American economy and contribute to education and research. During the COVID-19 pandemic it is especially important that we support students who are studying this disease. Thankfully, student visas will continue to be granted in the fall.

Similar guidelines to those in March will be in place for universities, which allow flexibility for students whether they choose to stay in the U.S. or not. This is a great relief for students who have already been put in a tough situation with airline cancellations and shutdowns.

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology played an important role in reversing this backwards policy by suing ICE over the new rules. Sign the petition below to thank Harvard and MIT lawyers for their work in taking down this harmful policy.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Lee,

Thank you for your work to fight the ICE policy that would suspend student visas in the fall. It is an immense relief to international students who will now be able to stay in the United States regardless if their classes are online or not. The new rules were cruel and capricious and would have done much more harm than good to universities and to the U.S.

During the COVID-19 pandemic it is especially important that students still have access to education and to research. Thank you for taking a stand against ICE’s harmful actions and protecting all students’ rights to an online education.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Elisa.rolle