**A letter to MVFA Members**

Hi Everyone, 

This week the Trump administration announced that international students must leave our country if they are enrolled in online programs. 

Importantly, this can potentially destroy the future of talented students who come to MVCC and other institutions in the US to study. This literally threatens the livelihoods of MVCC faculty as well as other employees. This will have a direct impact on every program at MVCC. 

For more info, read: 
ICE: Foreign Students Must Leave The U.S. If Their Colleges Go Online-Only This Fall
In a time of uncertain budgets caused by a global pandemic where we are working to keep students and employees safe by working online, this move from the Trump administration is a direct attack on higher education. 

I am asking you to please contact your members of Congress. Tell your friends and family to do the same. Post the hell out of this on social media. The email below has a letter to help. This is a very serious issue. We need to take immediate action. 

Higher education in Illinois and across the US is mobilizing on this issue. AFT, IFT, Local 1600, the Community College Presidents & Trustees, universities, liberal arts college are all unified to take action on this issue. But we need our members to voice their concern. 

Each day there seems to be a new challenge before us. This is something we can address safely from home. Thank you for helping,
Troy Swanson
MVFA President

Dear CCID Members,
 
I write to you with an urgent request to join our call/write campaign to congressional representatives to urge U.S. Homeland Security to protect academic continuity for international students at our schools.  On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a modification of the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) temporary exemptions for international students, which allowed students in the United States to take online courses while remaining in the United States due to the global pandemic.  The announced modification could have a profound impact on the academic continuity of many of our international students. COVID-19 remains a major concern for the resumption of face-to-face classes this fall, and students should not be forced to choose between their health or their education.
 
Please help us reach out to congressional representatives to ask for their advocacy urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to allow nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students to remain in the United States if their classes are fully online this fall.

Call your representative! Find phone numbers for your Senators and House Representatives HERE. Use the talking points in the letter below.Email or write your representative! Find information to email or write your Senators and House Representatives HERE. Feel free to use the letter below. 
Thank you for helping us protect international students!
 
The CCID Team
 
Sample letter or email to your representative:
 
Dear [insert your representative’s name],
 
I write to you today deeply concerned about the July 6th decision by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to modify the Student Exchange Visitor Program’s (SEVP) temporary exemptions issued for nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students due to COVID-19.  I am grateful for the flexibility the Department of Homeland Security has shown with international students and SEVP requirements for the spring and summer. The recent modification, however, will not allow students taking fully online classes in the fall to remain in the United States.
 
The pandemic will likely be a threat to the health and well-being of students well into the fall, and this modification is premature. I am concerned many schools will not be able to offer face-to-face classes for fall if COVID-19 continues to threaten the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Many students will not have viable options to transfer to another school or will have to choose between their education or their health.
 
We cannot afford to exacerbate the impact of COVID-19 by retreating from our commitments to ensure academic continuity for international students. This modification also jeopardizes the ability of the United States to continue to be a global leader in higher education.
 
I’m asking you to urge the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider this premature modification and allow nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students to remain in the United States even if they take fully online classes in the fall.