Conflicting Messages on Legal Immigration

In early March, the White House arranged a meeting with representatives of U.S. universities and higher-education associations. The topic, unknown to participants until they showed up at the meeting: merit-based migration. This was a relief given concerns heading into the meeting — that the government might be interested in cutting back on international students or restricting their ability to work.

Here is the most stunning description of the meeting: “White House officials expressed concern about the fall-off in international students coming to the United States and asked how to reverse it.”

Why stunning?

Because denial rates for student and work visas are on the rise. Attorneys have been forced to file federal lawsuits challenging the improper denial of visas. At the same time, the United States is planning to close overseas immigration offices, a move that lawyers say will increase the backlog for visas.

As I explored in a recent article, international students pay attention to U.S. immigration policy when weighing their choices about where to study and where to work after graduation. And right now, those policies don’t look inviting.

If the Trump administration truly wants to court international students, and the potential for skilled labor they represent, it’s got a lot of work to do.

-KitJ