ASBMB responds to Trump administration’s proposed restrictions on student and scientist visas
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology submitted formal comments on Monday to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security raising concerns about the agency’s proposed changes to visas that allow foreign students and scientists to study and conduct research in the United States.
“The U.S. must strive to attract international students and researchers, and these proposed changes would only dissuade them,” said Benjamin Corb, director of public affairs for the ASBMB. “As we laid out in our comments, if enacted, these changes will damage the U.S. economy and the American research enterprise by depleting the STEM workforce, discouraging and hindering scientific collaboration and reducing American research output and innovation.”
DHS seeks to change how long students and trainees with J, F and I type visas can stay in America. The agency wants to restrict foreign students to four years of study here, but most graduate degrees in the sciences take between five and seven years to complete. The society argues that the visa process must accommodate degree completion.
“Rule changes like these show a lack of understanding and respect for foreign-born students currently studying — and participating — in the American scientific workforce,” Corb said.
The ASBMB’s comments also address the chilling effect of visa restrictions on international collaboration and how study after study has documented that diverse research teams are more creative and productive than ones that are not diverse.
“Adding unnecessary visa restrictions will deter international researchers from coming to the U.S., ultimately resulting in fewer breakthroughs, medicines and scientific products to market,” the society’s comments argue. “If the U.S. aims to continue to be a leader in scientific research and development, then the pace of American innovation must rapidly accelerate. Without an international STEM workforce, it will decelerate.”
Read the full comments here.
Join the ASBMB Today mailing list
Sign up to get updates on articles, interviews and events.
Latest in Policy
Policy highlights or most popular articles
Pandemic threatens food security for many college students
One spring 2020 report found that 38% of students at four-year universities were food-insecure in the previous 30 days.
From neuroscientist to science policy analyst
Careers columnist Martina G. Efeyini talked to NHLBI staffer Nicholas Jury about his career path.
What the election results mean for science
Biden has promised “disciplined, trustworthy leadership grounded in science”; runoffs will determine the balance of power in Congress.
Survey: 1 in 5 NIH workers were sexually harassed in past year
Young, nonbinary and bisexual employees were most likely to experience harassment.
Pandemic snarls research administration
With data collection slowed and grant applications way up, the pandemic is disrupting the complex, slow-moving NIH funding system. Federal officials and university grant administrators are working to help researchers keep things moving.
Still unclear why university expelled 15 Chinese researchers
The University of North Texas has said only that the decision followed briefings by federal and local law enforcement.