National universities began to make the decision to switch to online courses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. At Harvard, for example, all course instructions will be sent online, including for students who live on campus. For international students, it opens the door for them to have to leave the US.

In the Monday news release, ICE said that students who are under certain visas “may not take the full online course load and remain in the United States,” added, “the US State Department will not issue visas for students enrolled in schools and / or programs that are fully online for the fall semester and US Customs and Border Protection will not allow this student to enter the United States. “

The agency recommends that students currently registered in the US consider other steps, such as transferring to school with direct instruction. There are exceptions for universities that use hybrid models, such as a mixture of online classes and classes.

Brad Farnsworth, vice president of the American Council on Education, said the announcement surprised him and many others.

“We think this will create more confusion and uncertainty,” said Farnsworth, whose organization represents around 1,800 colleges and universities. “What we expect is more appreciation for all the different nuances that the campus might explore.”

One concern with this new guideline, said Farnsworth, is what will happen if the public health situation deteriorates in the fall and universities that have offered classes directly feel that they have to change all programs online to stay safe.

Visa requirements for students are always strict and coming to the US to take online courses is prohibited.

“These are not some fly-by-night universities, this is not fraud, this is a legitimate university that usually has a personal curriculum but for coronaviruses,” said Theresa Cardinal Brown, director of immigration and cross-border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

“The bigger problem is that some of these countries have travel restrictions and they can’t go home, so what do they do?” he added. “It’s a puzzle for many students.”

Harvard University President Larry Bacow said in a statement late Monday that “we are very concerned that the guidelines issued today by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement apply a blunt approach, a measure for all complex problems in delivering international students, especially those in online programs. , some options outside leaving the country or transferring schools. “

Guidance, continued Bacow, “undermines the thoughtful approach taken on behalf of students by so many institutions, including Harvard, to plan for continuing academic programs while balancing the health and safety challenges of a global pandemic.”

“We will work closely with other colleges and universities across the country to map the path forward,” he said.

The Trump administration has made a series of changes to the US immigration system, citing the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in restrictions on immigrant plots to come to the country.

In the proclamation, the government argued that the “extraordinary circumstances” caused by coronavirus called for the suspension of work-based visas. But immigrant advocates, industry and experts say the government is taking advantage of a pandemic to make immigration changes and advance its agenda to cut legal immigration.

Monday’s announcement, like the changes that preceded it, could also result in many foreign students often paying high school fees to return to their home countries.

Farnsworth said he saw the announcement as part of a larger pattern of movement by the government that “has not yet set the right tone.”

“This will make me think more of the anxiety of international students, and for those who are still thinking about where they are going in the fall, I think this can encourage them towards attending a university in another country,” he said.

This story has been updated with quotes and additional information.