Late afternoon on Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s administration walked back a policy that would have deported international college students for taking online classes full-time.

This policy was announced last week by the Department of Homeland Security, quickly sparking outrage from universities and colleges around the country.

What You Need To Know


  • The White House revoked a policy that would have deported international college students for taking online classes full-time

  • The policy had drawn outrage from many universities and colleges

  • Most colleges and universities across New York are planning to switch at least some, if not all of their courses, to virtual or distance learning for the fall

  • Multiple lawsuits were filed against these new guidelines

New York filed a lawsuit against this policy, as New York’s Attorney General Letitia James detailed earlier on the same day.

“The diversity of our colleges and universities is what makes New York schools around the world the most competitive and most sought after,” AG James said during a press call. “But President Trump’s reversal in policy not only threatens these students’ educational path, but our state’s hard hit economy.”

Most colleges and universities across the state are planning to switch at least some, if not all of their courses, to virtual or distance learning for the fall semester.

“Students should not have to choose between their health and their ability to continue their studies in the U.S.,” Mary Beth Labate, president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, explained. “This new rule could force those students to abandon their studies, which will have a negative ripple effect on the campuses and communities that benefit from their academic research and cultural contributions.”

New York is home to over 100,000 international students, the second highest in the country.

SUNY Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Tod Laursen estimates that these students contribute around $700 million annually in tuition and fees to SUNY schools and millions more in housing.

“We have the largest system of higher education and play a significant role in New York state’s economy,” Laursen said. “We have a far reaching impact and we have a tremendous responsibility to protect all of those we serve.”

Multiple other lawsuits were also filed against these new guidelines.

Seventeen states filed a joint lawsuit including California, New Jersey, Colorado, as well as a separate lawsuit filed by Harvard and MIT.

Harvard and MIT filed a lawsuit, with more than 200 universities singing a memo with their support  

And 17 states including California, New Jersey, Colorado and more also filed a lawsuit as well.

“Because we represent the largest number of international students in this nation, I thought it was important that New York files a separate lawsuit on its own,” James explained.

The Trump administration’s reversal of this policy means international students will no longer be forced to leave the country if they choose to take online courses full time in the fall.

Once this policy reversal was announced, AG James released this statement in part, “Politics should have never been a factor in our nation’s public health decisions, but as long as the president continues down this path, we will continue to use every legal tool at our disposal to stop him.”