US Senators seek crackdown on student visa

[OhioChick]

Source: Economic Times of India

8 Mar, 2011, 03.41AM IST,PTI

HOUSTON: Several Democratic senators are urging the federal government to crackdown on criminals and suspected terrorists obtaining valid student visas.

Senators Charles Schumer, Claire McCaskill, Jon Tester, Bill Nelson and Diane Feinstein are taking part in the effort saying some schools are bogus, and are merely fronts for suspected criminals or terrorists once they receive the government-authorised learning visas.

Three suspected sham universities in the city have been shut down for their alleged involvement. In a letter to Immigration and the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, the lawmakers proposed greater information sharing between federal agencies and stiffer penalties for rule breakers.

They pointed out some of the men involved in the September 11 attacks arrived in the US on student visas. Five US senators are calling for a federal crackdown on "phony colleges" handing out student visas to potential criminals and terrorists.

Read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/us-senators-seek-crackdown-on-student-visa/articleshow/7651227.cms

[yurbud]

1. I was all set to disagree until I read the article.

[midnight]

2. There seems to be misplaced crackdowness. Shouldn't this crack down be on the school and not the

visa industry?

[OhioChick]

3. Both....

One incident:

"Inquiring students and professionals knew about it, discussed it in immigration forums..

But eager beavers looking for a short cut to emigrating to the US through a questionable academic route ignored the red flags."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Duped-Indian-students-ignored-red-flags/articleshow/7393658.cms

[midnight]

4. These financial institutions have tapped into a racket that

seems to make a piggy bank out of students without the skill to fight back.... Financial regulations should take care of this...

[sarcasmo]

5. There should have been a crackdown long ago.