WASHINGTON – President Trump shifted his campaign against aliens into higher gear, saying that foreign students will be deported if they are enrolled only in online courses. About 1.1 million foreign students hold student visas to study at U.S. colleges. Technically the order is not new. The requirement for brick-and-mortar enrollment has been around a long time, but it’s been enforced only loosely. Strict enforcement will put many foreign students in a bind because many traditional colleges have shifted courses due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new enforcement announcement came from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known commonly as “ICE.” The agency suggested work-around measures, like transferring to schools with in-person instruction. An exception may be considered for colleges using a mix of online and in-person classes.
