John,

With new COVID-19 cases surging across the country, countless colleges and universities are making the safe and smart decision to move classes either partially or completely online next semester. Now, Trump’s deportation force is using this situation to target immigrants studying in the United States.

This week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (better known as ICE) announced that international students pursuing degrees in the U.S. will either have to transfer to a university holding in-person classes or leave the country this fall – they cannot stay in the country if they take online-only courses.

Yes, in the middle of a pandemic, ICE is forcing international students to choose between their health or potential deportation. As always, the cruelty is the point.

If allowed to go into effect, this rule would completely uproot the lives of college students, forcing them to put their studies on hold and return to countries where they may not have access to the same education or career opportunities.

It's up to us to stand with international students.

That’s why I’ve joined other educators in signing a letter calling for ICE to rescind its decision and for university leaders to stand with professors, faculty and alumni in fighting to protect international and immigrant students. Now, I’m joining with DFA to escalate the pressure by showing our demand is backed up by Americans nationwide.

Please add your name and strengthen our pressure on ICE and university leaders now.

Already, some universities like Harvard and MIT are speaking out and finding work-arounds to ensure their international students can continue to study in the U.S. while protecting their own health and their community’s safety.

Now we need every university to join them.

Let’s work together to add momentum and pressure to force ICE to reverse its cruel decision immediately.

In solidarity,

Robert Reich