International college students worried about policy that could force them home

SEATTLE — Thousands of international students at local colleges could have to leave the country if their classes move online this fall.

The move, announced Monday by the Department of Homeland Security, would end a waiver enacted when the pandemic began.

"This is a typically xenophobic and reckless act by the administration," said Gov. Jay Inslee (D-Wash). "It creates perverse incentives for universities to do in -person classes even if they consider that unwise and unhealthy."

In a tweet, University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce called the policy "cruel and completely oblivious to the reality of the pandemic. The UW will work to change it and to support our students."

The UW's Seattle campus has 48,000 students, 8,000 of whom are international students. Like other out-of-state students, they pay full tuition.

"I'm kind of surprised with the news that was released yesterday," said UW student Akmal Mohd, who is from Malaysia.

"This is basically an attack on the international student community," said UW student Alexander Tsai, a U.S. citizen with many international student friends.

"They're panicked and afraid," he said.

Tsai says friends from Hong Kong could be arrested if they go home because of their activism here.

Other students wouldn't be able to access the internet at home because of government restrictions or a lack of connection.

Traveling to home countries is also difficult or extremely expensive because of canceled flights.

Tsai started a petition to the UW administrators, suggesting a workaround, where the school offers a single-credit class that meets in person just once a quarter.

"It would be a life saver for a number of international students who want to stay here," he said.

The University of Washington is planning to offer a mix of online and in-person classes in the fall, but that all depends on the pandemic.

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