Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration to prevent foreign students from losing their visas amid the pandemic.
On Wednesday, both collegiate institutions petitioned a federal court in Boston, Massachusetts for a temporary restraining order, as well as a permanent injunction, to halt the administration’s new initiative introduced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday.
According to The Hill, the lawsuit, which alleges that ICE’s new policy may be an effort to “force universities to reopen in-person classes,” notes concerns about the increased risk of exposure to coronavirus with in-person classes.
In addition to the inconvenience the policy will cause for foreign students, the lawsuit argues that faculty, staff, and all other students are also being forced to abruptly change carefully crafted plans to prevent the spread of coronavirus while maintaining academic standards.
The lawsuit also expresses concern for the future of foreign students who could be forced to upend their lives if this policy is enforced.
“The effect — and perhaps even the goal — is to create as much chaos for universities and international students as possible,” the lawsuit states.
Also citing the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the lawsuit noted the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Trump’s effort to dismantle the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Under that ruling, the Supreme Court stated that the Trump administration did not provide substantial evidence to justify ending the program.
The lawsuit comes two days after ICE’s announcement of the policy on Monday.
Amid ICE’s announcement and the lawsuit filing, Harvard has also taken to Twitter with a statement about the policy.
Harvard President Lawrence Bascow has vowed that the university will continue its fight to ensure that students can “can continue their studies without the threat of deportation.”
“We will pursue this case vigorously so that our international students—and international students at institutions across the country—can continue their studies without the threat of deportation.” – President Bacow (5/6)
— Harvard University (@Harvard) July 8, 2020
MIT also echoed similar sentiments noting the potentially critical impacts of ICE’s pending policy on its international students.
This ruling has potentially serious implications for MIT’s international students and those enrolled at institutions across the country.
— Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (@MIT) July 8, 2020
While we pursue legal protections for our international students, we will continue to stay in close touch with them through email and updates on the International Students Office’s website https://t.co/kJhzfGG4FB. If you have Qs, you may write to the ISO at iso-help@mit.edu. pic.twitter.com/pWVugDPVeS
— Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (@MIT) July 8, 2020
As of Wednesday morning, more than 40 states are facing surges in coronavirus cases. There are more than 3 million known cases across the United States as the death toll also continues to rise.