The Administration rescinded its policy requiring F-1 and M-1 international students to take at least some of their classes in person during the Fall 2020 semester – or leave the country. The policy provoked an immediate, backlash in the higher education and business communities, and gave rise to lawsuits from a number of universities and states. Many saw the policy as an attempt by the administration to force schools to reopen even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government reached an agreement with Harvard and M.I.T. (the first universities to file suit) that it would not enforce the policy. Instead international students will be allowed to maintain their visa statuses even while taking some or all of their classes online.