Feds Rescind Online Study Restrictions for International Students
Posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2020The Trump administration has dropped its effort to require international students to leave the U.S. if their schools will offer only online instruction this fall. The move came after a number of universities filed suit to stop implementation of the rule. It took only two minutes in a Boston Federal District Courtroom for the opposing parties - Harvard and MIT on the one hand and the federal government on the other – to reach an agreement. As a result, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will revert to the guidance issued in March, which allows international students to remain in the U.S. even if their college or university opts for online-only instruction due to health considerations.
The March advisories may be found at:
https://www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Document/2020/Coronavirus%20Guidance_3.13.20.pdf
Recent Immigration Blog Posts
-
DHS Expands Immigration Vetting Procedures Posted on Monday, May 4, 2026
Read moreBeginning April 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), implemented updated vetting procedures affecting many immigration applications.
-
DACA update - Matter of Santiago-Santiago (BIA 4/24/2026 decision) Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Read more
On April 24, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) issued an important decision establishing that being a DACA recipient, by itself, is not enough to terminate removal (deportation) proceedings.
-
Immigration 2026 Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Read more
Since last January, many immigration policy and regulation changes have taken effect. In general, scrutiny has greatly increased, policy application is much less flexible, and significant changes continue to take place with little to no warning.