CURRENT EVENTS --ICE, distance learning, and foreign student visas

The United States ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has just announced a controversial policy affecting foreign students. I oppose this decision.

A very   quick, hastily produced introduction to the current US ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) policy on foreign students who are taking classes through distance learning. Please note that this policy primarily affects foreign students who came to the USA to study in conventional programs but whose programs have switched exclusively to distance learning due to the on-going Covid-19 Pandemic. Not a final or complete study on the issue, and I created this merely as a starting point for those interested on this issue. Please feel free to share. Please feel free to contact me at plh25.0@gmail.com with additional resources. Thank you

Here is the official government press release from ICE.

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/sevp-modifies-temporary-exemptions-nonimmigrant-students-taking-online-courses-during?fbclid=IwAR3eQmfV7B9cEWIUpjB-lAq5oZyTvF1RnqQppJIlCbbR2FSlb9NRPxzcAbE

Here are some stories of reactions from the media. This is not intended as a comprehensive survey but only a brief, quickly collected group of such stories although an effort was made to include different angles and viewpoints.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/christian-groups-oppose-removal-foreign-students-200710200829464.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/99-members-congress-demand-withdrawal-restrictions-international-students-n1233358?fbclid=IwAR34AH6WH8tt_wAPgu7wVlrRINNNHwgAJrBVFcQ03ATBtKI9EtjJjfX9-yY

https://www.wcvb.com/article/harvard-mit-sue-feds-over-new-immigration-rule-targeting-students/33246356?fbclid=IwAR2YL5-Za40P9jf-7EIyoavKPKcReL09_byDIKRCYQav610LyJSFvjR4CG4

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/politics/harvard-mit-lawsuit-ice-foreign-students/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2ggdT_8Gy77IjHgXQJnPRrKQX6ruhGwLKAQTmDdmDyhaCDZkIM9GWUvxY

To better understand this issue, please keep in mind this action will not just affect foreign students, but also their landlords, local restaurants, the places they buy their clothes and groceries, and the many other businesses and services where they spend money. This is a report from NAFSA, a respected organization for professionals in the international education field, on the economic value of foreign students. (FYI, I have personally visited two different large NAFSA gatherings. They were expensive, but I enjoyed them.)

https://www.nafsa.org/policy-and-advocacy/policy-resources/nafsa-international-student-economic-value-tool-v2?fbclid=IwAR1jDW4yIB-7UTVS0fG9-GGqzck3OGwTrpEyC9FRNDB-UpenQ4kRr7xMNLY

Here are some academic organizations that are working on this issue. By sharing these links, I am not endorsing these organizations or their approach to this issue. Again, this is quickly assembled and shared for informational and initial networking purposes.

The National Humanities Alliance  (both links)

https://www.nhalliance.org/take_action_to_reverse_ices_decision_on_international_students

https://p2a.co/NwHGF6D

Statement from the Associations for Asian Studies

https://www.asianstudies.org/aas-statement-on-modifications-to-student-and-exchange-visitor-program-rules/?fbclid=IwAR07nBwGQ9UdSQZW4yhbd3gZKtIEK66YUOcp_UJaTOH50jvC7T1Xwf7INMw

Here is a list of academics who have signed an open letter. If you are an academic you can consider signing it.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HNQjP2yPtS67C4UpaNMn0Khn1c2LDwgU-p9Htzh4_2A/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3DXcEGRWU3UKnN1BQMFXKOi9Dh3ko8olgb3QlzdpiZvlOM4J6zcDZu7vA&edit_requested=true&hl=en

Here is a Twitter feed discussion from an immigration lawyer that is well worth reading. Again, I do not endorse the man but am sharing for informational and networking purposes.

https://twitter.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1280207487573069827?fbclid=IwAR10B_S1fQD4hgxIBh5kRlLZefYfvDiwSFWWcvJelzz2pq9PHP24cIQm7A0

Here are a pair of petitions one can read and/ or sign if one wishes

Change.org

https://www.change.org/p/student-and-exchange-visitor-program-sevp-allow-f-1-and-m-1-students-to-remain-in-the-us-with-online-only-classes?recruiter=50438578&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=signature_receipt&recruited_by_id=44270b50-9df8-0130-3580-00221968d0e0&fbclid=IwAR2XHrD89ev-Y2UodATKPKnweNoUed98QMHNIBhJImYlyzPnNsWacx-MVYI

Whitehouse.gov

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/allow-f-1-students-stay-us-through-fall-semester-if-instruction-online-due-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR2zDzXbjZLT-rlpIsUYH1LL-Rr1a5kUGE-bnyK3b-Aix6x9JYRDrl106hI

Thank  you,

Peter Huston, MA, MS,