Foreign Students Get Breather After Trump Administration Revokes Controversial VISA Order For International Students

The administration informed its decision to a federal district court that was hearing a lawsuit challenging the order from Harvard and MIT and hundreds of other schools and colleges and states.

US President Donald Trump

New Delhi, July 15: In a move that will bring immense relief for scores of Indian as well as international students who are pursuing education in the US, the Trump administration has withdrawn its controversial order seeking foreign students to leave the US if their courses had moved completely online due to Covid-19. Also Read: WBBSE Board Madhyamik class 10 Exam Results ANNOUNCED; Know All Details & Check The Result On ABP Ananda Taking cognizance of the order a lawsuit has been filed by Harvard and MIT, joined by hundreds of other schools and colleges and some states. The administration has informed about its decision to a federal district court in Massachusetts that was hearing the lawsuit challenging the order, as per the report in national daily Hindustan Times. “I’m glad the Trump admin agreed to rescind this dangerous & xenophobic #StudentBan policy after we demanded they reverse course & MA schools sued them. I’ll keep fighting to make sure it stays that way,” Elizabeth Warren, Democratic senator and former presidential candidate, wrote on twitter. “When we fight back, we can make a real difference.” The proposed order from the Trump administration was aimed at foreign students enrolled in US institutions who are taking online-only classes for their fall semester and were not allowed to come to the US and those already in the country were forced to leave, unless a majority of their coursework was taught in-person. The announcement came from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency last week and expected to be notified later this month. However, foreign students of colleges and universities shifting to a hybrid model which incorporates online and in-person classes will be asked to opt for more online classes than previously allowed. But these institutions have to demonstrate that they had indeed shifted to this model, also called “blended”. As per the report, the US enrolled around 1 million international students every year, generating around $41 billion worth of economic activity besides supporting 450,000 jobs, according to the American Council on Education. The council represents US colleges and universities. Incomes generated from foreign students are critical to the financial health of many US colleges.