ICE to deport international students if they attend online classes

One of the most enduring effects of this pandemic is how education is dramatically altered in ways never imagined before. Because of the sanitation protocols being followed, schools now are redesigning how instructions are to be delivered to students without imposing hardships. The traditional way of classroom teaching takes a sidestep as online instruction is preferred, having less chances of spreading the disease.

However, online learning seems to be a bane for international students here in the USA. Just this Monday, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that international students must enroll in at least in-person courses for the incoming school year, lest they face deportation. This new ICE policy threatens thousands of foreign students who, though no fault of their own, are faced with no choice if their universities choose to transition to online courses because of the pandemic. Naturally, this directive has created a lot of confusion, uncertainty, and unwanted stress not only to international students but also to the colleges and universities with many foreign students.

Thus, on Wednesday, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed an action against the Trump administration in the hopes of blocking the enforcement of this policy. Their action in seeking relief from the court is a sentiment shared by almost all colleges and immigration advocates who characterize this policy as inhumane and risky. We have to wait how the court rules on this matter. I personally see this policy being blocked by the court as there is no legal justification to impose this.

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In my conversations with fellow Cebuanos here in the US, we’re all concerned by the current pandemic situation in Cebu. Personally, I know several friends living in Cebu who contracted the virus. Some of them survived while a few died. From their experiences, I learned that this crisis exposes and amplifies the tragic state of our current healthcare system which really needs to be reformed. Take the issue of costs as one example.

Healthcare, as a matter of constitutional right, must be affordable and accessible. But such isn’t the case. It’s very expensive to be hospitalized with COVID-19. A friend of mine was told by a private hospital in Cebu City to prepare at least P25,000 a day for ICU care of a family member. Imagine if you stay one week at the ICU. They have to pay a minimum of at least P10,000 a day for PPE used by the staff. An experimental drug costs about P40,000 per vial, to be given at least twice. If you want to be tested for COVID-19, you have to pay at least P16,550. If you have an incoming medical procedure, you must be tested as well.

By the way, my friend whose family member stayed for only six days at a regular floor, paid more than P550,000.

I hope the government can look into these prices whether these are reasonable or exorbitant under these circumstances.