ICE has announced a modification to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program for foreign students that if their colleges opt to hold all classes online in the coming semester due to the coronavirus, the students must either enroll in a college holding in-person classes or return to their home countries.
This rescinds an exemption to the SEVP program enacted last semester as colleges started cancelling in-person classes to prevent the spread of coronavirus among students, staff and faculty.
The change also impacts students enrolled in colleges which may change their in-person during the semester, meaning students may have to withdraw from classes if they cannot continue to attend class for any reason.
It is unclear how this policy impacts foreign graduate students conducting research or other non-classroom instruction.