Let international students stay in the U​.​S. Say no to SEVP and ICE!

Let international students stay in the U​.​S. Say no to SEVP and ICE!

Started
July 6, 2020
Victory
This petition made change with 119,473 supporters!

Why this petition matters

The SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) has just told students in the United States who are studying here on student visas that if their university/college goes to a fully online format, they have to leave the U.S. and not come back for the remainder of the fall semester. 

"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. The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States. 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...if not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings."

The SEVP simply CANNOT do this to our international student population. College starts as soon as next month for many students. They simply cannot find the time to transfer to another institution as many have already passed their transfer deadlines for the upcoming fall semester. 

International students cannot be expected to travel under current circumstances. This is inhumane and vile. Many international students chose to stay in the U.S. because traveling back home was risky, or their home countries are blocking people from coming in. These students did not have a choice. Forcing them back to countries where they may not be allowed back in and during a pandemic is unreasonable.

For the 2018/2019 academic year, international students made up about 1,095,299 of the student population across the country. Despite some of them being back in their home countries, many remain in the U.S. and we simply cannot crowd airports in this way if they are forced to leave. This poses a real health danger to many people, not only our students. We need to do better for our international student population and put their health and safety first. 

The SEVP needs to allow international students to continue their studies in the U.S. regardless of how many online classes they take, whether their institution is going fully online or not, allow their student visas to be valid, continue issuing visas regardless of their institutions status, and they need to be allowed into the country if they are already in their home countries and plan on traveling back. 

Our international students help our economy thrive. They contribute $39 billion to the national economy alone and support more than 400,000 jobs. These students are not only numbers, however. They are hardworking, resilient individuals ready to get their lives started.

International students offer more than just their economic contribution, they help enrich our education and the country. Many of these students are making real change in the U.S. and are advancing our society. Why is the U.S. treating these students with little to no decency?

THE U.S. NEED TO DO BETTER! 

 

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This petition made change with 119,473 supporters!

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