The Trump Administration Rescinded ICE Rule for International Students

On July 10, 2020, the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision’s (ACES) issued a statement opposing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regulation that stated international students must take at least some education in person for their F-1 and M-1 visas to remain valid. 

This regulation would have caused 360,000 international students (as of 2019) enrolled at American institutions (which include students in counselor education) to leave the US or find an institution with in-person instruction. 

The Trump administration has rescinded the ICE regulation that would have required international students to transfer or leave the country if their schools held classes entirely online as a result of the national health emergency. Federal immigration authorities agreed to pull the July 6 directive and “return to the status quo.”

The announcement brings relief to thousands of foreign students who had been at risk of being deported, along with colleges and universities that would have needed to act quickly and reassess their plans for the fall in light of the policy.

ACA is grateful to its membership for activating its grassroots networks so quickly. We are also grateful to ACES for their partnership on this matter. If you have questions or would like to become involved in ACA’s advocacy efforts, ACA’s Government Affairs and Public Policy team is happy to help. You can contact them at advocacy@counseling.org.