Notre Dame joins 58 other universities in support of Harvard, MIT lawsuit | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Notre Dame joins 58 other universities in support of Harvard, MIT lawsuit Notre Dame joins 58 other universities in support of Harvard, MIT lawsuit Published: July 13, 2020 Author: Dennis Brown University Seal The University of Notre Dame joined during this past weekend with 58 other institutions of higher learning as amici in support of a court motion by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from expelling international students who are enrolled exclusively online, University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., announced today. Harvard and MIT filed a lawsuit last week seeking a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction against the policy. ICE announced July 6 that it would strip foreign students of visas if their college or university opted against in-person classes in the coming fall semester. Although Notre Dame will be holding classes in-person this fall, the injustice of the policy compelled the University to join the brief. The amicus brief states that since the “onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, amici have spent countless hours and resources preparing for the fall term, which begins imminently. In making these plans, amici relied on federal guidance allowing international students to attend all-online courses during the pandemic, guidance which was to remain ‘in effect for the duration of the emergency.’ The emergency persists, yet the government’s policy has suddenly and drastically changed, throwing amici’s preparations into disarray and causing significant harm and turmoil.” The amici are 59 public and private colleges and universities from 24 states and the District of Columbia that enroll more than 213,000 international students annually through the student visa program. Notre Dame enrolls about 1,400 students, who Father Jenkins wrote in a letter last week to the acting secretary of Homeland Security are “an essential part of our campus community.” For the U.S. government to expel them from this country, he wrote, would be an “in hospitable, even hostile approach toward visiting students and scholars who enrich our own learning and cultural environments.” The full brief is here. Posted In: University News Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 03, 2022 Congresswoman Liz Cheney to speak at Notre Dame on the future of democracy September 22, 2022 In memoriam: Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., longtime leader for Notre Dame, Congregation of Holy Cross September 22, 2022 ND Forum keynote event to feature Emmy Award-winning actors in Theater of War Productions’ presentation of ‘The Suppliants’ in Notre Dame Stadium September 21, 2022 In annual address to faculty, Father Jenkins outlines campus-wide vision for elevating excellence September 15, 2022 Lilly Endowment Inc. grant helps to expand Notre Dame pre-college programs for Hoosier high school students For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn