Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) is proposing a bill that would overhaul the INS Student Visa system. In order to do so, she is proposing a six-month halt to all student visas in the country. This in and of itself has potential disastrous effects for many students, but the rest of the measures proposed (such as “secondary inspections of incoming students,” “comprehensive background checks” and “biometric data (i.e., fingerprints, photographs) on all foreign students applying to enter the U.S.”) sound rather Orwellian too.

These measures would only hurt people honestly seeking an education in this country, could easily create discrimination towards people coming from Arab and developing countries and seem so incredibly complicated they’d take years – not six months – to implement.

I urge the administration, the faculty, the international student community and American students here at Iowa State to read the proposals and take action.

Silvia Secchi

Assistant Scientist

Center for Agricultural and Rural Development

578 Heady Hall