Reversal of ICE Ruling is Welcome News

The decision by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reverse its July decision that would have forced international students to leave the U.S., or transfer to another college or university if their school offered classes entirely online this fall, was greeted positively by QCC’s President Dr. Luis Pedraja.

“I’m glad to see that the Administration did the right thing in allowing foreign students to take online classes and remain in the country. We welcome all international students to take the opportunity to learn and earn a degree. Our students, faculty, staff and community will all be able to benefit from the opportunities to exchange ideas and cultural experiences,” Dr. Pedraja said. “I’m proud of my fellow Presidents at our sister institutions for banding together and partnering with the Attorney General to influence the Administration. This will ensure that foreign students will not have to choose between their health and an education, so they too can have the opportunity to pursue their ‘American Dream.’”

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey led a multistate lawsuit against the recent ICE ruling that included 40 declarations from a variety of institutions directly affected by the new guideline, including Massachusetts Community Colleges and Massachusetts State Universities.

Shortly after ICE announced its new guidelines Dr. Pedraja swiftly released a strong statement denouncing them as a “direct violation of our students’ human rights.”

QCC is continuing with remote instruction this fall and had the ruling not been reversed, over 40 QCC international students would have been affected.

“No one should have to choose between pursuing an education or deportation. Forcing students to choose between education and their health is unfathomable,” he said.