Harvard and MIT Sue to Block Trump's Immigration Policy Affecting International Students

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have joined forces to challenge the Trump administration's decision to deport international students on online courses. In a lawsuit filed in the US federal court in Boston, the universities accuse the administration of "reckless" and "cruel" policy that would leave hundreds of thousands of international students without educational options in the US. The policy, announced by President Trump on Monday, requires foreign students on online courses to leave the country or transfer to a course with in-person teaching to maintain their lawful status.

Key Takeaways:

• Harvard and MIT, which attract about 9,000 international students on F-1 academic study visas each year, argue that the policy would leave many students with no educational options in the US.
• The universities claim that even if students were able to return home, they might find it difficult to take part in online learning due to different time zones.
• The policy is seen as an attempt by the White House to pressure universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction, despite concerns for health and safety.
• Many colleges and universities are grappling with how to return students to campus while protecting them from the risk of infection, with options ranging from fully online to hybrid courses.
• Other universities, including Princeton and Columbia, are supporting Harvard and MIT's lawsuit or exploring ways to protect their international students.
• International students are caught in the middle of the policy dispute, with many facing uncertainty about their visas, health, families, and ability to continue their education.

Statistics:

• 9,000: The number of international students on F-1 academic study visas that Harvard and MIT attract each year.
• Hundreds of thousands: The estimated number of international students who would be left without educational options in the US if the policy is implemented.
• 2020: The year in which summer and autumn courses will likely be impacted by the immigration policy change.

Sources:

• "Harvard and MIT Sue Trump Over Immigration Policy," The New York Times (2020)
• "Harvard, MIT Sue Trump Over Immigration Policy for International Students," CNBC (2020)
• "Harvard and MIT Attract About 9,000 Overseas Students Each Year," Harvard Crimson (2020)
• "International Students Caught in Crosshairs of White House Immigration Policy," Bloomberg (2020)