[R-G] Non-US Students Jailed over Class Load

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

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/>