For a July 17 article in Inside Higher Ed, Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Audrey Anderson shared her perspective on the Trump administration’s withdrawal of a directive prohibiting international students from taking exclusively online courses and remaining in the United States. Specifically, the article and Audrey address the questions that the policy reversal raises for new international students seeking to attend colleges operating in an online or hybrid format.
As the U.S. Department of State is beginning to resume visa processing and even prioritizing travelers with urgent needs (like students), colleges remain unclear on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rules regarding new students entering the country during a pandemic.
“It’s not at all clear what the rules are,” Audrey said. “They shouldn’t hide the ball. ICE should do its job and put out clear public guidance.”
Given the urgent need for clarity on this issue as the school year approaches, colleges and university should watch closely for guidance from ICE and other government agencies.
The full article, “Where Do New International Students Stand?,” was published by Inside Higher Ed on July 17 and is available online.