Joe Biden slams Trump's latest ICE mandate on international students, Internet says 'we need you'
A new directive by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump administration has caused an outcry after it was stated that international college students would be stripped of their visas if their coursework was entirely online. The new rules, which must still be finalized this month, might discourage overseas students from attending American universities and reduce the number of international students enrolling in the fall.
The decision affects students who are in the US on F-1 and M-1 visas, according to the ICE statement that says these students are not allowed to enroll in any online courses. Students who were already in the United States and were enrolled at these online-only institutions will be allowed a maximum of one online class or three credit hours to remain in status or they would have to switch to a school that allows them to take the minimum number of in-person classes. An estimated 1M international students enrolled in US colleges every year. Their impact on the US economy is worth $41B and they support more than 450,000 jobs.
In response to the new directive, 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted, "Across the world, people come to this country with unrelenting optimism and determination toward the future. They study here, innovate here, they make America who we are. Donald Trump doesn't get that — we need a president who does."
Biden's latest tweet is drumming up support for the Democratic presidential candidate as the 2020 presidential elections draw closer. US President Donald Trump has been widely criticized for his immigration policies that range from bans on travelers from certain countries seemingly based on religion and the move by the administration to separate parents and children at the US-Mexico border and place the separated children in detention camps where they are subject to abuse.
Many took to social media to express their agreement with Biden's statement. A user tweeted, "@JoeBiden knows what makes us strong. @realDonaldTrump’s racism makes us weak." Another simply tweeted, "We need you!" A user expressed, "@JoeBiden I am an administrator (former teacher for 20+ years) at a school with a high population of EL students. They are AMAZINGLY innovative. They are AMAZINGLY creative. They want to learn and make a positive change. I will continue to advocate for my DACA babies."
A user shared, "This is the year to put things right by voting out Donald, give him one credit though, because of his incompetence and arrogance to do anything for money or attention, America now knows what to fix that he broke and fix it better to be all-inclusive not a divided Country." Another wrote, "As someone who came to the US on an F-1 visa, and after many years of school, jobs, kids, and finally US Citizenship in 2017, I’m going to use my first vote in a Presidential election as a vote against policies like those proposed by Trump."
However, many Trump supporters took to social media to call Biden out on his statement. A user tweeted, "America is with Trump on this. Biden is wrong. If the student loves his/her country he/she must go back." Another shared, "No Joe. You don't get it. People come (here) because of the freedom, equality, and opportunity America offers. Dems, your Party, (just in case you forgot) want to replace all of this with Socialism. Socialism is what most of these people were escaping."
