Top immigration official outlines security database changes
By SOPHIA TAREEN
Associated Press Writer
8:55 PM CDT, May 13, 2008

CHICAGO

A top U.S. Immigration official said Tuesday that an increase in fees to fund a security database that tracks foreign students is necessary to help keep the country safer.

"Foreign students provide so many benefits to our communities overall," Julie Myers, the assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in a presentation to officials from Midwest colleges and universities. "We're looking out for the few who abuse the system."

But critics disagree, saying that requiring students to shell out more money to come to the U.S. creates barriers and sends a message that the country doesn't welcome foreigners.

Proposed changes to the Student Exchange Visitor Information System include doubling fees foreign students pay to $200 from $100 and, in some cases, a more than fivefold increase of what some universities pay. For example, the cost for school certification to use the Web-based program will jump to $1,700 from $230.

ICE says the money funds improvements including additional agents to help schools with monitoring and a more user-friendly computer system. Federal funds don't pay for the program.

The SEVIS system started in 2003, following security concerns after the September 2001 terror attacks. At least one hijacker held a student visa at the time.

The system tracks personal information, including employment, of more than a million students and exchange visitors to the U.S. This is the first time the fees will increase.

Since the program started, critics have said the fees are unfair because the federal government should pay for its program.

"It will be very difficult for certain people, especially people from poor countries," Peter Lee, an official from Western Michigan University told Immigration officials Tuesday. The countries that send the largest number of students are South Korea, India, China, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, Turkey, Thailand and Saudi Arabia, according to ICE.

Others say increasing fees has widespread consequences.

"It is part of a broader message that we send to international students about coming to this country," said Victor Johnson, a public policy analyst with the Association of International Educators. "How can we create a welcoming environment for these international students that we claim we want so much? We have pursued international students for 50 years now as a conscious strategy of making friends in the world ... If you stop nurturing that, you're going to pay long-term consequences in this country."

He said students would be drawn to other countries that don't have fees. Since the majority of international students pursue business, engineering and hard sciences, that means a potential brain drain for the U.S., he said.

Student visas make up less than 5 percent of total visas granted each year, but foreign students are one of the most-highly monitored groups, particularly because many students overstayed their visas before SEVIS, according to ICE.

The number of international students studying in the U.S. dropped after the 2001 attacks, according to the Institute of International Education.

In the 2002-03 academic year about 586,000 international students took classes at U.S. schools. That number decreased every year until 2005-06, when it hit a low of about 565,000. Since then, the number has rebounded. Nearly 583,000 attended U.S. schools in 2006-07, according to the institute.

Myers touted foreign students on Tuesday, sharing personal experiences she had in college. Myers spoke at the University of Illinois at Chicago, wrapping up a nationwide tour.

"Having foreign students living and studying at our institutions is a huge benefit to American students," Myers said. "We can help keep our country safer by introducing foreign visitors to our culture and dispel the message when they return (home)."

She said there has been progress in restoring "integrity to the our Immigration system" but the increased fees are crucial to improve further.

The fee increases, which are subject to public comment and final approval, could take effect Oct. 1.
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