Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a new visa policy announced on Monday.

The lawsuit seeks to get a temporary restraining order, and a preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, that would prevent the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from removing foreign students if their universities are not holding in-person classes this fall. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts. Cornell University has also announced that it is supporting Harvard and MIT’s lawsuit.

“The effect—and perhaps even the goal—is to create as much chaos for universities and international students as possible,” the lawsuit stated.


New federal guidelines presented a difficult choice to universities across America: Either they reopen their schools and do not teach entirely remotely, or have their international students be deported.

The new rule by the administration blindsided universities, already reeling financially and logistically from the COVID-19 pandemic that has yet to end.


ICE on July 6 announced that it was making changes to how it treated international students with F-1 and M-1 visas. Even though the coronavirus pandemic has shuttered schools, if a student is taking an entirely online course, they cannot remain in the U.S., unless they transfer to a school with in-person instruction “to remain in lawful status.”

If they fail to do so, “they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings,” ICE said.

But if the school is offering a hybrid model — both in-person and online education — they’ll be allowed to take more than one class online, but the school needs to certify their status to the government.

Only 8% of colleges have thus far planned for a completely online fall semester — and 2.1% are “waiting to decide,” according to data compiled by the Chronicle of Higher Education.


‘Cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness’
The rule was announced by ICE only a few hours after Harvard released its new guidance on going fully remote.

“The order came down without notice—its cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness,” Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow said. “We believe that the ICE order is bad public policy, and we believe that it is illegal.”

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey also announced her intent to sue over the guidelines on Tuesday night. (A request for an update on Wednesday has not been responded to.)

Harvard and MIT stated in the lawsuit: “ICE’s action proceeded without any indication of having considered the health of students, faculty, university staff, or communities; the reliance of both students and universities on ICE’s statements that the preexisting exemptions would be ‘in effect for the duration of the emergency’ posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to this day; or the absence of other options for universities to provide their curricula to many of their international students.”

The schools also alluded to the fact that the federal government was forcing schools to reopen, even though they were worried about the public health and safety risk given the pandemic was still ongoing.

https://news.yahoo.com/

Trump is desperately trying to lose this election

They are not called Harvard and MIT for nothing.

Ivy league schools. They're not taking any bullshit from anyone.

Trump and his handlers needs to have their brains re -examined.


US is not a banana republic !

doggedfighter:
They are not called Harvard and MIT for nothing.

Ivy league schools. They're not taking any bullshit from anyone.

Trump and his handlers needs to have their brains re -examined.


US is not a banana republic !

Y'all Nigerians can't focus on your country for once

darfay:


Y'all Nigerians can't focus on your country for once

Will it affect the vultures. No !!
They have all the cash to look elsewhere.

It's those everyday people that are struggling to break the hold of the vultures on their destiny that suffers policies like this.

That's why I don't want this decision to fly.

How was your day?

doggedfighter:


Will it affect the vultures. No !!
They have all the cash to look elsewhere.

It's those everyday people that are struggling to break the hold of the vultures on their destiny that suffers policies like this.

That's why I don't want this decision to fly.

How was your day?

Oh
I see your point now maa
It was nice, I believe yours was too