Holy Cross Supports Suit Against ICE Student Deportation Policy

WORCESTER, MA — Holy Cross has joined a local effort to stop U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from enacting a new policy that would deport college students who stay in the country while taking online courses.

The new ICE initiative, which was announced Monday, would affect international students who attend colleges that are transitioning classes online due to coronavirus. Holy Cross President the Rev. Philip Boroughs issued a statement condemning the policy earlier this week.

"Holy Cross stands in solidarity with all international students, who enrich our nation by bringing their unique experiences and talents to our institutions of higher learning," the statement said. "The guidance announced this week by [ICE], calling for students to leave the country if they are engaged in an online-only curriculum, serves no purpose but to limit opportunities for talented student and to add anxiety and worry to an already stressful time."

On Friday, Holy Cross signed on to an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit filed earlier this week by MIT and Harvard University to stop the new ICE policy.

Holy Cross is planning to reopen the campus for the fall semester, subject to state and local guidelines on coronavirus safety.