Trump's week in review: Targeting cash bail, firing Lisa Cook
5. Trump administration announces proposed rule limiting duration of student visas
In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it had submitted a proposed rule to the Federal Register that would impose limits on the amount of time foreign students and other similarly situated visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S.
“For too long, past Administrations have allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the U.S. virtually indefinitely, posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars, and disadvantaging U.S. citizens,” a DHS spokesperson said. “This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the U.S., easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history.”
DHS explained that current law allows foreign students to remain in the U.S. under an unspecified period known as the “duration of status.” The proposed rule would limit the amount of time a foreign student can remain in the U.S. to four years.
The Trump administration insisted that the proposed rule would have the effect of “curbing visa abuse and increasing the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to properly vet and oversee these individuals.” DHS maintained that many foreign students end up as “forever” students by continuously enrolling in higher education classes so they can remain in the U.S. indefinitely, which the federal agency labeled as taking “advantage of U.S. generosity.”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
