UK International Students F

story at 5;30p

C1 3 seltzer.

I'm tom kenny, welcome in.

We hope you and your family and safe and healthy.

Covid-19 ended in- person teaching in the spring for most colleges and universities.

But, as schools look to the fall, international students may not be allowed to remain in the united states.

According to u-s immigration and customs enforcement or 'ice'... new visas won't be issued to students at universities offering a mix of online and in-person classes.

The guidance says international students won't be exempt even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term.

Abc 36 justin roth spoke to a u-k student facing this dilemma.

It's our top story at 5:30.

The announcement from 'ice' saying international students may need to leave the united states if their university transitions to online-only learning is still a bit of shock for many students and schools.

08 "cause of everything that is happening we have the risk of being deported because it doesn't matter anyway if you come here legally and have your documents."

Many international students stayed in kentucky this summer due to the coronavirus and travel bans across the globe.

For now, the majority of the students will not be affected.

13 "so far we are going to have a hybrid system so we are not affected, but we need to tell them what we're going to do and we need to have a new i20 form to protect our immigration status in the country."

Either way the move gives an uneasy feeling 15 "we are scared because we don't know what's coming next.

Even from my personal experience i'm grateful to the university of kentucky for everything that they are doing.

I know that they can control just certain things.

They don't have access to everything."

Molhol is currently a phd student studying viruses.

She understands how important her education is during a pandemic but says she's just one of many others.

22 "we international students are international students but we are also people.

We are also the children of someone; we are husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, parents so all these new announcements are coming on top of everything else that will affect our daily lives.

Harvard and m-i-t have filed lawsuits challenging the administration's rule.

Justin roth, abc 36 news.

We told you in our last half-hour that senate majority leader mitch mcconnell was in central kentucky today.... highlighting the cares act.... and funding for a new drug program.

L3: abc 36 news white mcconnell: supports cdc guidelines on schools reopening during that visit... mcconnell was asked about comments by president trump.... who says he disagrees with the c-d-c and its guidelines to open schools safely in the fall... saying its impractical and will cost too much.

Mcconnell broke with the president... saying he backs the guidelines... but agrees the cost involved in cleaning, supplying personal protective equipment and tools for online learning will be high.

Mcconnell went on to say congress will be working to provide funding to help get students back into the classroom in the fall.... something president trump is also pushing for... even threatening to withhold federal money if schools don't reopen.

L3: abc 36 news white senator mitch mcconnell (r) - kentucky "further focus is likely to be on kids and school jobs and health care.

We can't have.

A normal country if we don't have kids back in school so that will be a heavy focus of the proposal" l3: abc 36 news white mcconnell: supports cdc guidelines on schools reopening in another break with the president.... mcconnell wore a face mask during his appearances today... saying wearing a mask shouldn't be a political issue.

Senator mcconnell launched the first attack-ad of the general election today against his democratic opponent, amy mcgrath.

In it, he uses the words of a democrat against her...quoting the man who came up just short of beating mcgrath in the primary.

Take a listen.

"perhaps charles booker had the best line on mcgrath, saying i know that kentuckians can smell bs from miles away.

That's a democrat on mcgrath."

The ad features criticisms of mcgrath from newspapers during the primary...and seizes on the perception that she is limping into the election after barely surviving the primary.

Mcgrath's campaign manager told the lexington herald- leader that mcconnell is looking to shift the focus away from "the atrocious job he's doing in congress."

Today.... the