The University of California announced plans to sue the government over a policy that could bar international students from studying in the U.S.

The guidelines issued Monday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement would bar international students from staying in the country if they attend a school that offers only online courses during the coronavirus crisis.

The University of California said it will seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent ICE from enforcing the order, which UC President Janet Napolitano said was "mean-spirited, arbitrary and damaging to America."  .

Like Harvard, the California State University System had previously determined that all students, enrolled on 23 campuses, will take fall classes online.

"The safety of our students and the campus community is our paramount concern and guides what we do," Napolitano said in a statement?