Home for the Holidays?
By Lauren Dake
As politicians and government officials continue to ponder the events of Sept. 11, international students begin to feel some of the scrutiny. They are bracing themselves for what may be a difficult journey home for Christmas.
One of the biggest concerns being raised by public officials is how the terrorists were able to enter the United States. According to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), 13 of the 19 suspected hijackers had entered the United States using legitimate visas. At least two are suspected of entering using student visas.
According to California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein's Web page, "500,000 foreign nationals entered on foreign student visas alone. The foreign student visa system is one of the most under-regulated visa categories, subject to bribes and other problems that leave it wide open to abuse and terrorists."
Feinstein is one of the many politicians demanding a law for stricter regulation on student visas. She was also pushing to close U.S. borders to any new foreign students in order to allow immigration authorities to start background checks and implement tracking systems on all foreign students.
For international students across the United States these changes could mean many things. However, the one closest at hand is whether or not they will be able to fly home for the holidays.
For senior international student, Michelle Davis, her biggest fear is the unknown.
"I understand the security measures and why they have to be careful," Davis said, "but I'm afraid that since no strict policy has been laid yet that could mean varying degrees in regulations ... It might mean I get to go home but not be allowed to re-enter and finish my senior year."
For most people the holidays mean family time and Davis is no exception. She would like to visit her family in the Phillipines for the holidays.
"Christmas is Christmas. It's a special time of year that you just want to be with your family ... I don't want to have to face the possibility of choosing between graduating or seeing my family at Christmas," Davis said.
According to Gillian Thorp, assistant director of undergraduate admissions at Santa Clara, international students do have reason for concern regarding traveling.
"That is not to say that international students on F-1 visas should not travel or are not permitted to travel. Neither do they need to be paranoid about traveling. Rather, one needs to be judicious in his/her decision to travel at this point in time," Thorp said.
Thorp also added that at this time neither the INS nor the U.S. State Dept. have changed their regulations regarding re-entry into the United States.
Senior Josh Montemayor from Indonesia, however, has decided not to go home. According to Montemayor, his parents are more worried about another terrorist attack over the holiday break than interrogation or immigration issues.
"My visa was issued in 1998 and the student visa, the F-1, is good for five years. I won't be applying for the student visa anymore but now I have to think about applying for a working visa," Montemayor said.
For Montemayor a more pressing repercussion of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is concern for his parent's welfare in Indonesia. Indonesia's population is 90 percent Muslim.
"I would say I'm more worried about my parents being in Indonesia than they are about me being here. Both my parents are Christians and I just think they are in a worse position than me," Montemayor said. "There is a small percentage of poorly educated Muslims who think the U.S. is attacking all Muslims. It's unfortunate that the small percentage of Muslims who are misinformed get the most attention."
According to Thorp, Santa Clara has approximately 134 international students. As they start thinking about their holiday plans, she encourages all of them to visit the International Student Services located in Benson before leaving the country.