‘No barriers for foreign students in US’

Executive Director of NAFSA-an association of international educators in the US, Marlene Johnson said that the international education community is working with the Congress and the Bush administration to ensure that the national security measures put into place will not raise unnecessary barriers to international student access academic facilities in the US.

In an official statement, Mr. Johnson said, "All of us who live in the United States and also the visitors have been profoundly impacted by the tragic events of September 11 and their aftermath. During this difficult time, the higher education community has been unequivocal in its strong commitment and appreciation for the international students and scholars in our country."

The director said that the US government is engaged in the task of ensuring public safety and preventing future act of terrorism and closer scrutiny of all nonimmigrant visitors has been a part of the effort to increase the national security. Mr. Johnson said that though some students are deciding to leave for their country, it is thankful that only a hand full of half a million international students currently in the US have chosen to do so.

Republished from The Asian Age