PAAIA Calls on DHS to Reverse Proposed Rule to Limit Student Visas

For Immediate Release
Contact: Emily Porter
Email: Emily@paaia.org
Phone: (202) 828-8370

Washington, DC– The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization serving the interests of the Iranian American community, today reacted to news that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a proposed rule that would limit the duration of visas for students attending U.S. colleges and universities.
 
In response to the news, PAAIA Executive Director Leila Austin issued the following statement:
 
“PAAIA is deeply concerned about DHS’s proposal to limit the stay of international students attending U.S. colleges and universities to four years and Iranian students to two. This is yet another obstacle for international and specifically Iranian students who already face a great deal of scrutiny and hardship while pursuing higher education opportunities abroad. While students are currently exempt from the administration’s discriminatory Travel Ban, this new rule is an attempt to impose yet another strenuous restriction on Iranian students who seek only to further their education at the very best academic institutions in the world. For the past sixty years, Iranian students have made significant contributions to our country and institutions of higher education. PAAIA is hopeful that through the government’s review of this proposed rule, DHS will recognize how short-sighted this policy is and how detrimental this limit would be to both international students and U.S. higher education.”

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