Skip to content
News and updates

Author: Gabriel Kornas

Michael Kratsios Appointed to Key Defense Research Position

Posted on

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has named Michael Kratsios to be Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Until now, Kratsios has been serving as the White House Chief Technology Officer, and will replace former-NASA Administrator Michael Griffin in his new role.

Prior to starting at the White House, Kratsios held several positions in the financial sector of increasing scope and responsibility. He has a BA from Princeton and was a visiting scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Washington State Files Suit Against DHS

Posted on

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a federal lawsuit on Friday against the US Department of Homeland Security, citing harm from the “July 6th Directive” which will require F-1 and M-1 students to leave the US if their classes are entirely online due to COVID-19.

The suit, filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, specifically accuses the rule of being “cruel, arbitrary, and capricious”. The suit goes further to call the directive “illogical and illegal”, and specifically cites harm to institutions such as the University of Washington and our students.

 

What We’re Reading this Week (July 6th-10th, 2020)

Posted on

Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.

Robert Fuller: The FBI’s Civil Rights Division will look into the death of Robert Fuller, a 24 year old black man who was found dead outside LA. Police ruled the death a suicide, however the Fuller family suspects foul play. More at BBC.

Outrage over Death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen: Public outrage has mounted after Vanessa Guillen, a US Army soldier stationed at Ft. Hood, was found dead after being reported missing for months. Her disappearance came after she filed sexual harassment allegations. A suspect in the case committed suicide during a police encounter. More at Washington Post.

USDA Leadership Changes: On Friday it was announced that Dr. Parag Chitnis will serve as Acting Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Press Release.

President in Florida: President Trump has arrived in Florida for a fundraiser and an anti-drug trafficking meeting, however many express concerns that cases are spiking in the state. More at USA Today.

Disney: America’s most recognizable theme park, Disney World, will reopen on July 11th in a phased approach. More at CNN.

Seoul Mayor Passes Away: Park Won-Soon, the Mayor of Seoul, South Korea, was found dead on a mountainside near his home. Police declined to give further details, but ruled out foul play. Media reports note that a sexual misconduct allegation had been filed against Park on Wednesday, however under Korean law investigations close if the accused dies. More at CNN.

ICE SEVP Modifies Temporary Exemptions for Student Visas

Posted on

Today, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) modified temporary exemptions for non-immigrant students taking online classes due to COVID-19.

The modifications include:

  • Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.
  • Nonimmigrant F-1 students attending schools operating under normal in-person classes are bound by existing federal regulations.
  • Nonimmigrant F-1 students attending schools adopting a hybrid model—that is, a mixture of online and in person classes—will be allowed to take more than one class or three credit hours online. These schools must certify to SEVP, through the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” certifying that the program is not entirely online, that the student is not taking an entirely online course load this semester, and that the student is taking the minimum number of online classes required to make normal progress in their degree program.

Even under the hybrid model, F-1 students may not remain in the US if all of their classes are online.

Currently, US Embassies and Consulates are still not conducting any routine visa services. Additionally, foreign students may be affected by COVID-19 entry restrictions, which bar foreign nationals coming from Brazil, China, the Schengen Area, UK, Ireland, and Iran.

What We’re Reading this Week (June 22nd-26th, 2020)

Posted on

Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.

Reopening DC: Washington, DC entered phase 2 of reopening on June 22nd, allowing limited indoor retail and dining. More at NBC Washington.

Boeing 737 MAX: International Regulators, including the EU, want significant design changes in order for the 737 MAX to fly again, after two deadly crashes and drawn-out scandal over design flaws. More at Seattle Times.

Seattle Police: Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a proposed $20 million budget cut to Seattle Police, as the agency reoccupied the East Precinct on Capitol Hill, which had been taken by protesters. Full story at Seattle Times.

CHOP: Several business owners in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle will sue the City, claiming harm caused by the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP). More at King 5.

East Coast Quarantine: New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will require visitors from 8 different states to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, citing high COVID infection rates. More at CNN.

China and India Clash: Recent satellite photos indicate China has built structures in a disputed border area near the Himalayan Mountains, where Indian and Chinese troops fought earlier this month leaving at least 20 Indian soldiers dead. More at BBC.