House Approves Legislation for New Homeland Security Department

On July 26, the House of Representatives passed the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (H.R.5005), which authorizes the creation of a new Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security (DHS), composed largely of 22 existing federal agencies and departments. The legislation would abolish the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and divide its authority between a new DHS Bureau of Border Security (which would be responsible for the administration of SEVIS) and a new Justice Department Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. In addition, the bill would grant DHS authority over visa policy, but keep the visa issuance function within the State Department. 

Prior to passage, members who wished to offer amendments to the bill on the House floor had to submit them in advance to the House Rules Committee, which determined which amendments could be offered. Among the amendments that would have had consequences for international education and exchange were two that were submitted by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) that would have denied student visas to nationals of countries that support international terrorism and to nationals of Saudi Arabia. The Rules Committee did not make these amendments in order, so they could not be offered on the floor. An amendment that was made in order, submitted by Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.), would have transferred the visa-issuance function from the State Department to DHS. This amendment was voted down on the House floor. On July 23, NAFSA and the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange sent a letter to all House members asking them to oppose any such amendment to transfer visa issuance from the Department of State. 

View the NAFSA/Alliance July 23 letter sent to House members regarding visa issuance.