Non-U.S. students jailed over class load
Friday, December 27, 2002 Posted: 10:23 AM EST (1523 GMT)
DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- At least six Middle Eastern students
studying in Colorado have been jailed in the past 10 days for failing
to take enough college classes as required by their student visas.
The students ran into trouble when they showed up to register with
U.S. immigration officials, as required by new rules to track foreign
students.
When they reported, they were jailed and required to post $5,000
bonds for enrolling in less than 12 hours of college credit.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service says the students are
being detained because under-enrollment is a violation of their
student visas. The students are not suspected of any other offense.
"We're concerned about the heavy-handed nature of the enforcement and
their lack of understanding of their own regulations," said Chris
Johnson, director of international education at the University of
Colorado at Denver. "Students are being detained unfairly and
callously."
One University of Colorado at Denver student was jailed last week
because he was one hour shy of a full load after receiving college
permission to drop a course, Johnson said.
"I don't believe this is helping us with the war on terrorism," said
Mark Hallett, director of international student services at Colorado
State University. "We're alienating people who could be our best
friends and ambassadors once they return to their countries."
The Middle Eastern students were jailed for up to 48 hours before
posting bond. Three attend UCD, two study at CU-Boulder, and one
attends Colorado State University.
College officials expect more to be detained during a second round of
January registrations at the INS district office in Denver.
Congress ordered federal registrations by December 16 for males 16
and older carrying temporary visas from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya and
Sudan -- countries identified by the State Department as having ties
to terrorism.
A January 10 deadline is for men from the United Arab Emirates, North
Korea, Morocco, Afghanistan and nine other countries. Two more rounds
of registrations will follow with the goal of tracking most foreign
nationals by 2005.
"As far as the INS is concerned, this system was put in place in
Congress to combat the war on terrorism. We're carrying out their
wishes. This is a policy issue," said Nina Pruneda, INS regional
public affairs officer.
The INS wants to ensure that international students are diligently
pursuing a degree, she said.
<http://www.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/12/27/foreign.students.ap/>
--
Yoshie
* Calendar of Events in Columbus:
<http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html>
* Anti-War Activist Resources: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/activist.html>
* Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/>
* Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osudivest.org/>
