The New Policy Implemented by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced a new policy in the middle of summer by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security which “implements a ban on international students enrolled in online-only courses” for the current, ongoing emergency of COVID-19 (Salgado). In dispute, HIT and Harvard decided to sue. Both institutions, NAFSA, and other organizations argued that international students will be burdened by online-only courses after careful planning of their fall semester, and the contributions of international students will substantially lessen. In order to prosper in academic excellence and show support to international students, presidents from multiple schools stated their opinions on the policy and international students who will have to face detrimental effects. It is unfortunate, and it makes it difficult for non-white groups to be a part of white-dominated communities. These articles relate to chapter three of Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens: Frank Oppenheimer and the World He Made Up by K. C. Cole. In the early 1940’s, physicists were under continuous and uncomfortable pressure to create an atomic bomb due to the theory of Hitler’s nuclear weapons. Just like physicists, students are put in a stressful situation due to force, and people can not leave the situation with a simple “no.” Hopefully, there is an easy solution soon. However, there seems to be no easy way out.

References

1. Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. (2020, July 10). 180 institutions of higher education join litigation in opposing administration’s “International Student Ban”. https://www.presidents
   alliance.org/press/180-institutions-of-higher-education-join-litigation-in-opposing-administrations-international-student-ban/
2. Adams, S. (2020, July 13). Harvard And MIT Sue The Federal Government Over ICE Deportation Policy. https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/
   2020/07/08/harvard-and-mit-sue-the-federal-government-over-ice-deportation-policy/
3. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (2020, July 6). SEVP modifies temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online courses during fall 2020 semester. https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/
   sevp-modifies-temporary-exemptions-nonimmigrant-students-taking-online-courses-during