Washington: The Trump administration on Tuesday dropped its rule denying visas to international students attending classes entirely online, a federal judge in Boston announced.
The decision means foreign students won’t have to choose between returning to their home countries or transferring to a school holding in-person classes during the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs made the surprise announcement ahead of a hearing on a lawsuit brought by Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology challenging the rule.
“I have been informed by the parties that they have come to a resolution,” she said at the start of proceedings. “They will return to the status quo.”
The American Civil Liberties Union released a statement welcoming the announcement.
“Thankfully, this attack on students is over. But the administration will undoubtedly continue in its failure to protect the people in America by using the pandemic for its hateful agenda to dismantle our immigration system, rather than creating a coordinated response for the future of our nation. These actions continue to do one thing: harm us all. But today, we are reminded that victories are possible — our fight continues,” the organization said.
