BOSTON — For years foreign students have immigrated to the United States in hopes of access to better education and eventually, a better life.
In 2019, international students made up 5.5% of the total student body in the United States, but now that number may change drastically. New, temporary procedures set forth by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for students on F-1 and M-1 visas say students taking online-only courses in the Fall will be instructed to go back to their county of residence or risk deportation.
Any international student who wishes to remain in the U.S. must be taking either only in-person classes or hybrid classes, a mix of online and in-person lectures (though the ratio of online to in-person courses wasn’t made clear).
>> Harvard, MIT sue ICE over threat to remove international students only taking remote classes
A local college student says he moved to the Boston area three years ago from Iran, hoping for a better life. Now, he is left feeling terrified that Immigration customs enforcement officials will deport him.
“The quality and the value of the education here, it’s all valuable to me, and be here,” said the student.
His name and the name of the college he attends will be kept anonymous given he’s afraid of possible ramifications.
The now 20-year-old left Iran when he was 17. Had he turned 18 in his country, he would’ve been forced to join the Iranian military.
He says he came to the U.S. for a better education system.
“I’m worried. They announced it more than a month ago that all the classes will be online. It’s weird to me why this statement was put out just now,” said the student.
He is attending college in Massachusetts on an F1 student visa where he studies computer science.
“If you can look back and see a bridge that you can walk back again, that gives you confidence, some hope, I just can’t. there is no bridge back there,” said the college student.
On Monday, ICE officials announced that international students who attend colleges that have turned to online classes maybe deported or they are forced to transfer to another university that offers in-person learning.
“ICE is expecting students to essentially self deport themselves,” said Mahsa Khanbabai, an immigration attorney.
Khanbabai is an Easton-based immigration attorney who is urging students to talk to their universities. She says she is working on two dozen cases regarding the new announcement right now. The second option, Khanbabi says, is OPT.
“Optional practical training, which allows them to get some training and work while they are here,” said Khanbabi.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey tweeted on Tuesday night saying, “This is another cruel attempt by the trump administration and ICE to stir up and punish immigrants. Massachusetts is home to thousands of international students who shouldn’t fear deportation or health risks in order to get education. We will sue.”
“What they are doing is not helping anyone. I’m not sure what they are trying to achieve,” said the college student.
On Wednesday morning, Harvard and MIT sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in District Court in Boston over the new rule and are seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to bar the agencies from enforcing the new regulation.
The 20-year-old and his attorney say going back to his native country isn’t an option, since there is poor internet connection, and the time zone is eight-and-a-half hours ahead of the U.S. and in many countries, many websites like YouTube, courses and educational websites are banned.