Moratorium on Student Visas

So, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is proposing a six-month moratorium on foreign student visas (Sept. 29) to give the incompetent and ineffective INS time to get cracking on monitoring foreign student visas. “There has to be recognition that [our borders are] a sieve” she stated. Thank you, senator. Better to see the light later rather than never at all.

Because of the state of national emergency and the probability of a long, drawn-out war, this is too little too late. A two-year moratorium would be more apropos. In addition, this moratorium should be extended to all current legal immigration. Our borders should be sealed, period. After all, we did it in 1941. We must do it again.

Joseph A. Lea

Mission Viejo

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Sen. Feinstein’s proposed six-month moratorium on new student visas joins a number of other recent proposals that penalize a large group of which only a minuscule fraction could conceivably pose a security threat. This policy is misdirected and would impose a high cost on U.S. colleges and graduate schools as well as foreign students who clearly are not part of Osama bin Laden’s network or any other terrorist organization.

The would-be perpetrators of the next heinous attack are likely already in our midst, and drastic immediate action is needed to stop them before they strike. A moment’s consideration suggests the threat is limited to men of Middle Eastern origin who have been inculcated with radical Islamic fundamentalist ideals. Rather than live in constant fear, we should politely ask foreign visitors who could fit this description to leave until the crisis is resolved, taking care to exempt individuals with legitimate business interests in the U.S.

Policies that trade individual liberties for domestic security should target the narrowest possible group that might harbor a threat, at the lowest possible price of precious freedom.

Stephen M. Stohs

Berkeley