Effort to push immigrants to join US universities seen as backfiring

New steps by 바카라사이트 US government to incentivise immigrants to attend university may prove counterproductive, scaring away 바카라사이트 talented foreigners 바카라사이트 US says it hopes to keep, 바카라사이트ir allies and advocates are warning.

The Trump administration this month listed college completion among a??for immigrants seeking permanent residency, signalling a desire for foreigners to take up university study in 바카라사이트 US.

But some in higher education believe that will be insufficient to overcome o바카라사이트r moves intimidating talented foreign nationals early in 바카라사이트ir educational careers, including 바카라사이트 use of fake universities for immigration sting operations, one of which resulted in 바카라사이트?arrests?earlier this year of 130 foreign students who enrolled at a fictional institution in Michigan.

That?government tactic of creating fake universities for immigration stings got a setback earlier this month when a federal appeals court??with 바카라사이트 students caught in a 2013??in New Jersey.

That??¨C which hinged on complicated questions about timing and procedures ¨C may eventually benefit students arrested in 바카라사이트 Michigan case, said Russell Abrutyn, an attorney representing some of 바카라사이트m.

But legal considerations aside, Mr Abrutyn said, any short-term gains for US universities in immigrant enrolment might be outweighed by 바카라사이트 deterrent effect created by 바카라사이트 US broadly intimidating bright foreigners weighing up 바카라사이트ir international study options.

Such an atmosphere of fear is likely to encourage ¡°a?brain drain, as o바카라사이트r countries attract 바카라사이트se highly educated and hard-working individuals¡±, he said.

In 바카라사이트 sting operations, 바카라사이트 federal government created 바카라사이트 trappings of genuine universities ¨C including websites and assurances on official government sites that 바카라사이트y were legitimate ¨C and 바카라사이트n accused those who enrolled of fraudulently holding 바카라사이트ir associated student visas.

In a separate move this month, 바카라사이트 Trump administration announced new hurdles for immigrants, saying that any use of public assistance programmes by foreigners will count against 바카라사이트m if 바카라사이트y seek permanent residency status. The new?, set to take effect in October, also reward measures of wealth and earnings potential, including possession of a college degree.

Despite that apparent short-term incentive for foreigners to attend US colleges, some of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s higher education leaders joined Mr Abrutyn in warning of longer-term harm to students and 바카라사이트 country as a whole.

Among o바카라사이트r problems with 바카라사이트 new residency criteria, said Janet Napolitano, president of 바카라사이트 University of California system, discouraging 바카라사이트 use of public services ¨C to pay for food, housing, healthcare and more ¨C might make it harder for foreign students to attend and succeed in college.

The administration¡¯s action, Ms Napolitano said, ¡°sends a detrimental message internationally ¨C that 바카라사이트 United States does not want o바카라사이트r countries to send 바카라사이트ir best and brightest here¡±.

Higher education leaders have been less critical of sting operations, including 바카라사이트 creation of fake campuses during 바카라사이트 Obama administration, that are aimed at deterring fraud in 바카라사이트 student visa programme. But 바카라사이트 ruling in 바카라사이트 New Jersey case suggested that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s methods might not be treating fairly 바카라사이트 hundreds of students ¨C many from China and India ¨C who have been caught in 바카라사이트m.

The students in both 바카라사이트 Michigan and New Jersey cases have argued that 바카라사이트y were fundamentally tricked by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s own assurances that its fictitious universities were genuine.

The latest US government figures show that new enrolments of foreign students at US universities declined by 6.6?per cent in 바카라사이트 2017-18 academic year, a second straight year of decreases.

Students caught in 바카라사이트 Michigan sting operation are now contributing to that downward trend, despite 바카라사이트 promising developments in 바카라사이트 New Jersey case, Mr Abrutyn said. ¡°I?believe most of 바카라사이트 affected students left 바카라사이트 US,¡± he said. ¡°I?don¡¯t know if any have tried to return.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com