This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On July 8, 2020, Harvard and MIT took a stand against the Trump administration's decision to revoke visas for foreign students whose courses have moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The universities filed a lawsuit in a Massachusetts district court, arguing that the policy is 'arbitrary and capricious' and would harm students 'immensely,' both personally and financially.
According to the lawsuit, the policy was announced by the US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) on July 6, 2020, stating that foreign students enrolled in programs that are fully online for the fall semester would not be allowed to enter the country.
Harvard President Lawrence Bacow described the policy as 'cruel' and 'reckless,' saying it was designed to pressure educational institutions to reopen their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction, despite concerns for the health and safety of students, instructors, and others.
The universities are seeking a temporary restraining order and 'permanent injunctive relief' to prevent the policy from being enforced, as well as a declaration that the order is unlawful and a reimbursement of their fees.
