Trump moves to limit US stays of students, journalists
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration moved on Thursday to impose stricter limits on how long foreign students and journalists can remain in the United States, the latest bid to tighten legal immigration.
Under a proposed change, foreign students would not be permitted to stay for more than four years on a student visa. Foreign journalists would be limited to stays of 240 days, although they could apply for further 240-day extensions.
Until now, the United States has generally issued visas for the duration of a student’s educational programme or a journalist’s assignment, although no non-immigrant visa may be valid for more than 10 years.
The proposed changes were published in the Federal Register, initiating a short period for public comment before they can take effect.
The Department of Homeland Security alleged that an unspecified number of visa holders were indefinitely extending their studies so they could remain as “forever” students. “For too long, past administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amounts of taxpayer dollars and disadvantaging US citizens,” the department said in a statement.
It did not explain how US citizens and taxpayers were harmed by international students, who, according to Commerce Department statistics, contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023. The United States welcomed more than 1.1 million international students in the 2023–24 academic year, more than any other country, supplying a crucial source of revenue as they generally pay full tuition.
A group representing leaders of US colleges and universities denounced the move as an unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle that intrudes on academic decision-making and could further deter prospective students who would otherwise contribute to research and job creation. “This proposed rule sends a message to talented individuals from around the world that their contributions are not valued in the United States,” said Miriam Feldblum, president and chief executive of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. “It weakens the ability of US colleges and universities to attract top talent, diminishing our global competitiveness.”
The announcement came as universities were starting their academic years with many reporting lower enrollments of international students after earlier actions by the Trump administration.
By RSS/AFP
