Harvard and MIT sue Trump administration over rules banning online studies for international students

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to anticipate the application of a controversial rule that would ban international students from studying at colleges that opt ​​to study in online only this fall.

The lawsuit, which seeks a temporary restraining order against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Harvard President Lawrence Bacow made the case public on Wednesday morning, writing that the international student ordinance “fell without warning – its cruelty is surpassed only by its recklessness.” He continued, “It appears to have been designed on purpose to pressure colleges and universities to open their classrooms on campus for in-person instruction this fall, with no regard for health and the safety of students, instructors and others. “

Federal guidelines on international students caused a storm in higher education this week. Specifically, it states that international students studying at colleges that opt ​​for online-only education will not be eligible to stay in the United States. It could be devastating for international students from institutions like Harvard and MIT, who have announced that teaching will be mostly online this fall.

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