Trump DHS Weighs Restricting Foreign Students

Trump Administration immigration hawks seem to be getting cocky in the wake of their partial travel ban victory at the Supreme Court. The Washington Post reports that the Department of Homeland Security is now considering ramping up security and regulatory hurdles for foreign students studying at U.S. colleges and universities, a draconian measure that would drive away talent from our shores and probably not produce any security benefits:

Senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security are floating a proposal that would require foreign students to reapply for permission to stay in the United States every year, a controversial move that would create new costs and paperwork for thousands of visa holders from China, India and other nations, according to two federal officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.

Officials caution that the plan is in the preliminary stages and would require regulatory changes that could take a minimum of 18 months. The plan may also require agreement from the State Department, which issues visas. The officials say the proposal seeks to enhance national security by more closely monitoring the students.

Americans are more on board with the Trump Administration than with the Democrats when it comes to enforcing immigration laws, scrutinizing people from high-risk areas before they enter the United States, and reducing the flow of less-skilled labor. But making life harder for talented young people who come to study in the U.S. does not fall into any of those categories.

This measure under consideration (if the Post reporting is right) seems like overreach from an administration that is giddy about having beaten the establishment on one highly charged immigration fight. The Trump people are right that America’s immigration system needs to be carefully regulated and controlled to safeguard security, encourage assimilation and protect less-skilled native labor markets. But targeting foreign students is gratuitous and would poison the well for any future, more well-considered reforms the administration might want to try.

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