US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s recent announcement, asking international students in the US to leave the country or transfer if their colleges hold classes entirely online this semester, has led to leaders of 12 Christian organisations urging the Trump administration to revoke the policy.
The leaders wrote a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, shared with The Associated Press news agency, stating that the policy “robs our country of the significant contribution,” with regards to the personal and economic contributions made by international students.
The letter cited Biblical passages and stated that the policy “lacks compassion” and “violates tenets of our faith”.
The leaders further said that “International students who have already arrived in the United States and who are enrolled in degree programs should be allowed to complete their courses of study in this country without further disruption.”
Several US universities and education groups say the policy unnecessarily put international students’ safety at risk.
Currently, the state of California seeks an injunction against the policy and Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has sued to block the policy.