Thread by @USVisaLawyer

Thread from me, a former international student & immigration lawyer of almost 13 years.

I came to the US as an F-1 foreign student.

I have been practicing immigration law exclusively since I graduated from law school at @ChicagoKentLaw in 2007.

I also set up my own law firm @McEnteeLawGroup and we employ a team of 10 fierce advocates.

mcenteelaw.com/team

In my work as an immigration lawyer I have advised and represented THOUSANDS of international students who have attended universities & colleges all over this country.

I've seen first-hand the amazing contributions foreign students bring to this country.

Foreign students typically must attend classes in person & can only do very limited classes online.

In response to the #COVID19 pandemic, earlier this year @ICEgov made exemption to this & allowed foreign students to study online for spring/summer.

Today @ICEgov changed that for Fall. It has now decided that international students who are attending online only colleges/universities would either have to will have to leave the country, switch to another school or risk deportation.

ice.gov/news/releases/…

This is a huge mistake for many reasons and appears to line up with this Administration's systematic efforts to reduce all types of immigration including foreign students.

This is not the first time we have seen restrictions re: foreign students.

A few months ago, 4 Republican Senators namely @tedcruz @SenTomCotton @ChuckGrassley & @HawleyMO wrote a letter to @realDonaldTrump.

In it, they state that there is "no reason" to allow these foreign students to apply for work permits on graduation.

cotton.senate.gov/files/document…

In response, I wrote an Opinion Piece for @USATODAY @usatodayopinion.

I gave many reasons why we would want to keep foreign students in US. & allow them to work

1. In 2018-2019, they contributed $41 billion & created or supported 458,290 jobs in U.S.

usatoday.com/story/opinion/…

2. International students typically pay TOP DOLLAR for their American education, which can effectively help subsidize universities and domestic students.

If you want American students to pay less college tuition, today's decision should bother you.

businessinsider.com/foreign-studen…

3. "Over the past decade, the explosion in the number of international students has turned education, almost by stealth, into one of the most vital American exports."

nytimes.com/2019/01/03/mag…

4. International students are also a critical source of top talent and greatly enhance U.S. competitiveness. According to a 2019 report from the @NiskanenCenter, programs like OPT lead to increased innovation without costing U.S. workers their jobs or decreasing average wages.

5. Additionally, although immigrants make up approx 17% of workforce, 55% of America's startup companies valued $1B+ had at least one immigrant co-founder. Of these startups, nearly 1/4 quarter were founded by immigrants who first came here as a student.

nfap.com/wp-content/upl…

6. Immigrants started 33% of U.S. venture-backed companies that became publicly traded between 2006 and 2012.

nfap.com/wp-content/upl…

7. International students, in particular, often study in science, technology, engineering and math — in the very areas that are most critical to future innovation and prosperity.

nfap.com/wp-content/upl…

"Now is the time for America to embrace her foreign students. In the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, we will need them more than ever."

usatoday.com/story/opinion/…

Today @ICEgov decided to slam the door shut on so many international students.

This is a terrible mistake for all the reasons mentioned above.

We're also in the middle of a global health #coronavirus pandemic & forcing in-person studies makes no sense.

ice.gov/doclib/sevis/p…

Other countries consistently nurture the asset that is international students but here in US, we just can't get rid of them fast enough.

As a former international student & immigration lawyer who has worked with thousands, I'm appalled by today's decision.

If you're as appalled as I am, here are some things you can do:

1. Contact your local Senator & Congressperson & explain why this is a terrible idea.

It could impact the health of US students as well as all the other reasons mentioned above.

2. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper to voice your concerns.

3. Support organizations that celebrate immigrants like @IAmAnImmigrant @DefineAmerican

4. Contact your college/university to see if there is anything you can help you can give them.

5. Check in on your immigrant friends and neighbors.

These constant anti-immigrant policies & rhetoric are NOT OKAY, neither are immigrants in this country.

The level of anxiety is at an all-time high.

Adding this @NPR article by @rachel_treisman.

This article features quotes from @Harvard President Larry Bacow, @ACEducation Ted Mitchell, and me from @McEnteeLawGroup.

We all agree that this is NOT a good idea.

npr.org/sections/coron…