The controversy of new restrictions on student visas

The Trump government, through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), declared earlier this week that it would implement restrictions on student visas in the US.

International students are now subject to the following requirements:

• International students who attend purely virtual classes during the fall must either leave the US or face deportation proceedings.
• If international students are part of a university that only offers virtual classes for the rest of the year, they have the possibility to change institutions and thus be able to have a portion of face-to-face classes.
• The Department of State (DOS) will not issue student visas for institutions that only offer virtual methodology for the rest of the year.

Therefore, international students must make the right decision to avoid a deportation case and affect their future in the US.

If you need help or have questions about your student visa, please do not hesitate to contact Motion Law Immigration.

Harvard and MIT file a lawsuit

Two of the universities that annually receive a large number of international students decided to file a lawsuit on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.

The official lawsuit has a total of 24 pages and recaps the position of ICE and Trump’s government regarding virtual education since the massive outbreak of Coronavirus hit the US.

The two universities involved in the lawsuit are:

1. Harvard.
2. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

In the lawsuit, they present several key arguments.

Let’s see some of them:

1. The health crisis is still latent and the country is one of the main epicenters of the pandemic in the world.
   In addition to that, the main recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) is to avoid conglomerations and respect social distancing, since the virus is highly contagious through human contact.
   It is well known that universities have a large number of local students, teachers, and foreign students. Therefore, a massive outbreak of Coronavirus could be unleashed if proper health protocols are not implemented and if WHO recommendations are not fully followed.
2. The economic impact for universities benefiting from the talent of international students could be devastating. In fact, the student sector contributes greatly to the country’s economy and drives international competitiveness.
3. Foreign students come to the US to fulfill their dream of getting a globally qualified college education. Forcing them to travel or face deportation in the midst of a global pandemic is to risk their lives.
4. ICE did not give international students enough time to make a legal transfer to different institutions (to be able to have face-to-face classes) because the fall study season has already started.

In fact, in the lawsuit, the universities declare: “ICE’s action proceeded without any indication of having considered the health of students, faculty, university staff, or communities (…) ICE’s action leaves hundreds of thousands of international students with no educational options within the United States. Just weeks from the start of the fall semester, these students are largely unable to transfer to universities providing on-campus instruction, notwithstanding ICE’s suggestion that they might do so to avoid removal from the country”.

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Do you have an immigration case?

Our expert immigration attorneys can help you not only with your student visa, but with any request regarding an immigration case.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Family Immigration.
• Business Immigration.
• Deportations.
• Appeals.
• Waivers.
• Adjustment of status.

Do not delay in seeking reliable help and constant accompaniment during these times of crisis.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.