Foreign Students in the US , whose courses have moved online following covid19 lockdowns, will no longer be deported.
This comes as the government rescinds its decision to revoke student visas as initially planned, according to a federal judge.
Harvard and MIT in conjunction with other universities had instituted legal action against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the move was announced on the 6th of July.
The 2 ivy league universities had asked the court to halt the order by the ICE directing foreign students in the US to leave the country if their classes have moved online. The directive also suggested that the students transfer to institutions offering in-person learning. Failure to do so, meant the students would have been forced to leave the country.
The move by Trump administration was perceived as a way of putting pressure on educational institutions that are adopting a cautious approach to reopening in spite of the #COVID19 pandemic.
Speaking about the unpopular revocation and possible implementation, Judge Allison Burroughs said that “the government has agreed to rescind.”
Part of the lawsuit by the university authorities, describes the financial and personal harm that the visa revocation would have caused the students if the decision was not revoked.
The Trump administration was slammed with 8 federal lawsuits and opposition from hundreds of universities forcing the government on Tuesday, to rescind the rule.
According to the US Institute of International Education, there were over one million foreign students un the US for the 2018-2019 academic session.