On Tuesday, July 14, DHS agreed to fully rescind the July 6, 2020 guidance that changed the policy regarding online courses and would have forced many international students to leave the country.

The announcement came during litigation filed by Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) challenging the new policy. The lawsuit alleged that the policy change appeared designed to force colleges to hold in-person classes, increasing the risk of COVID-19 exposure.

The status quo based upon DHS's prior, March 13, 2020, guidance will remain in force.