Penn State ‘very pleased’ after White House, ICE rescind rule that threatened international students
The Trump administration reversed course Tuesday on a rule that could’ve potentially deported international students at Penn State, and other universities across the country, if the school moved to online-only instruction.
“We are very pleased with this outcome, which we supported in an amicus brief submitted to the court yesterday,” Penn State spokeswoman Rachel Pell said, referring to the formal show of support for Harvard and MIT’s federal lawsuit against the rule. “We hope this news will come as a relief to our international community, and we look forward to welcoming them back to our campuses this fall.”
The main campus at University Park — which boasts more than 7,000 international students, based on 2018 data — saw anxiety permeate the international community last week. The Student and Exchange Visitor’s Program, overseen by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announced July 6 that nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students could not take a full online course load and remain in the U.S. — meaning, if Penn State eventually moved to online-only classes, such students would be forced to transfer or return home.
In an open letter July 8, Penn State President Eric Barron denounced the “very harmful” changes to the program, writing that such an edict would have a “disastrous and unfair impact on thousands of our students.”
Facing eight federal lawsuits and opposition from hundreds of universities, the Trump administration opted Tuesday to rescind the rule. The decision was announced at the start of a hearing in Boston — in a lawsuit brought on by Harvard and MIT, which Penn State supported — when federal immigration authorities agreed to pull the directive and “return to the status quo,” according to U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs.
More than 8,400 people had signed on to a Penn State-centric petition, urging the university to maintain in-person classes for the sake of international students. In response to the rule, the university also asked any concerned international students to call the Directorate of International Student and Scholar Advising, or submit questions online.
A town hall was also scheduled for international students Tuesday night on the rule change. Although that rule has since been rescinded, the university said it still anticipated holding the town hall.
“The town hall will continue tonight to give students an opportunity to hear a summary of the rescission from Shoba Wadhia, Director, Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, and hear from leaders in the university on the fall semester ahead,” Pell said.
Penn State’s first day of classes is officially set for Aug. 24.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
