Today, ICE released new guidelines detailing which international students are allowed to stay using their student visas during the COVID crisis this fall.

While both Haverford and Bryn Mawr College are planning to return to campus this coming fall, if the colleges do switch to online-learning, like Harvard has, our international students on F1 and M1 visas will NOT be allowed to return to the states, in addition to being forced to leave. 

22% of Bryn Mawr's student body are international, as well as the 9% of international students at Haverford. Not only would these regulations hurt the diverse, and welcoming community that both Haverford and Bryn Mawr talk about SO frequently, they also hurt the individual lives of our international students.

The ONLY way for our community to continue to thrive is for Bryn Mawr and Haverford to CONTINUE to commit to providing a hybrid of in-person classes and online classes. We need to guarantee a home to our peers, our friends, and our college family. Just as we are fighting for justice throughout the world, it is crucial we fight for justice in our own home. 

By signing this petition, you are demanding for Bryn Mawr and Haverford to continue to uphold the promise of a hybrid class model.

EDIT:

While this hybrid model is crucial, it is also important to address the possibility that COVID-19 may peak this fall term. We want BMC/HC to pledge to prioritize international students who wish to/have to remain in the US. If the bi-co has to re-evaluate it’s hybrid model of learning, we expect our colleges to prioritize a model allowing international students to stay in the U.S.