Foreign students in the United States are faced with uncertainties as the country says it will deport them if it moves all classes online.
This is despite President Donald Trump’s earlier declaration that schools would reopen in Fall, which is from August.
The immigration move is one that has caused anxiety with the likes of Senator Bernie Sanders sharply criticizing it.
According to an AFP reports, the authorities said:
“Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States,” US Immigration and Custom Enforcement said in a statement.
“Active students currently in the United States enrolled in such programs must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status,” ICE said.
“If not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.”
ICE said the State Department “will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will US Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States.”
F-1 students pursue academic coursework and M-1 students pursue “vocational coursework,” according to ICE.
