Owing to the new normal of COVID-19, the United States has disclosed that it will have to deport Nigerian and other foreign students if all their classes are moved online in the fall.
US Immigration and Custom Enforcement made this known in a statement on Monday.
“Non-immigrant 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. 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 to remain in lawful status. If not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.” ICE said in the statement.
It further stated that the State Department will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will US Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States.
The decision has been criticized by Bernie Sanders who tweeted that “The cruelty of this White House knows no bounds.”