Thread: Top immigration official outlines security database changes

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.
www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-s ... 2689.story

GOOD!! what else can you say...they are crowding our colleges, let them go to a different country!!


>>>>>"ACTION ALERT" 5/13<<<<<
"WE HAVE 4 STATES TO BATTLE"....PLEASE let them hear from you!!
See instructions at link:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-115317.html
Update on Louisiana HB1358
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-115298.html

Oh please, stop the sob stories. Make sure the foreign students pay enough in fees to fund the tracking system needed to insure they are abiding by the terms of their visas. Period. End of story.

Going off-topic just a bit...

The increased security is a good thing with respect to foreign nationals here as students. There is a high rate of students who 'just disappear' into US society and never go back home as they are required to do after graduating.

I think we should be more concerned about getting our own students educated. Every foreign student takes up a seat that otherwise could go to a US student. We need to change the way we finance education - especially higher education - so that all the students that can and want a good education can get one.

I have seen this gradual shift in priorities during my time in the university system (about 8-9 years total). Many justify it saying things like: "they [the foreign students] help boost student rolls and also pay out of state tuition", etc. This creates a perverse disincentive to want to pass over native (US) students for international ones - in the interest of $$$. Never mind, that it is entirely possible that the local US student trying to get into a local school and his/her family, probably indirectly supported the school through the payment of state/Fed taxes already... and the international student cannot make such a claim. Even worse, a case such as this would amount to de facto discrimination based on national origin for the local folks.

Yep, here's the confirmation of what I said above:

...but foreign students are one of the most-highly monitored groups, particularly because many students overstayed their visas before SEVIS, according to ICE.

I had seen this first-hand upon completing my graduate degree with my very own eyes (it's been 15 year ago, and I wasn't much engaged in the illegal immigration debate, otherwise I would have reported this person).

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.

Problem with the statement above... only a couple of the countries listed really qualify as 'poor' (eg. the countries sending most of their students here are NOT the poorest ones!). People from the above list, for the most part, CAN pay the increased fees!!!

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.

This is the most ignorant thing I've heard. This makes me want to scream "Shut up Stupid"!!!!

I don't care what they pay! Terrorist pretend to be students. Hello idiots!!!! I don't care what it cost them, if they can't afford the fee then they can go to another "less secure" country and get their education. I really don't care about the foreign students or what they pay, as long as my country is as safe as it can be!

It's a free market, if they don't like it, they can go some place else!

Dixie

Yep, so right Dixie.

Remember the 9/11 terrorists were at US pilot/flight schools for some time - and we never caught on...well, until it was much, much too late.

Help needed for the action alert ! Please join in! It won't take long but it will make a big difference!

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-115317.html