BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Western Washington University is blasting the Department of Homeland Security over its new policy on foreign student visas.

DHS announced on July 6th that foreign students enrolled only in on-line college courses in the fall would have to leave the U.S.

Western Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Brent Carbajal calls the order misguided and cruel and says it places a “uniquely unjust burden” on international students during the pandemic.

He says the university hopes to offer 25-30% of its classes in person in the fall, but there’s a chance they’ll have to return to online-only instruction if infections increase.

Carbajal says international students are a vital part of the university, and they’re working with the state’s congressional delegation and higher education associations to get the rule overturned.