The Center for Immigration Studies hosted a panel discussion on Tuesday, August 20, focusing on the potential national security risk posed by our current policies relating to foreign students and exchange visitors. The conversation centered around the release of a report, "U.S. Foreign Student and Exchange Visitor Policies Undercut National Security". Well over a million foreign students and scholars are in the U.S., many accompanied by spouses and children, most either studying or working on their student visas through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. These numbers do not include the large number of foreign nationals who remain illegally in the country after their visas expire – the student and exchange visa category has the highest overstay rate of all visa categories.
Jessica Vaughan, the Center's director of policy studies, and Center fellows David North and Dan Cadman addressed how to balance protecting national security with introducing international students to our culture, institutions, and values. Panelists also discussed options that will encourage, educate and provide opportunities to native-born STEM (science technology, engineering, mathematics) students – a population hurt by present policies.
VIDEO: https://cis.org/Video/Panel-Video-Foreign-Students-and-National-Security
TRANSCRIPT: https://cis.org/Transcript/Panel-Foreign-Students-and-National-Security
REPORT: U.S. Foreign Student and Exchange Visitor Policies Undercut National Security
REPORT: DHS Reports Slight Dip in Overstays in 2018
WHEN: Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: National Press Club, Murrow Room, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, D.C.
FACEBOOK LIVE: https://www.facebook.com/CenterforImmigrationStudies/posts/10158812155243102