The US needs to loosen its visa rules, according to some immigration experts who say an emphasis on keeping out potential terrorists has made it difficult for foreign-born visitors to enjoy their US stay.
"Visa policy has been reduced since Sept. 11 to simply keeping people who might be a threat to the United States out," said Demetrios Papademetriou, president of the Migration Policy Institute.
National interest
"Defending ourselves may be the pre-eminent national interest, but it is not the only national interest," Papademetriou said.
The think tank, which says it is independent and nonpartisan, released a report on Thursday on the changes in visa policy since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Papademetriou said the policy also should focus on the economic, social and cultural importance of being receptive to foreigners.
For example, it should encourage the most talented people from abroad to attend US universities, as schools in Europe and Asia step up recruitment of international students.
Problems
John Keeley of the Center for Immigration Studies, which pushes for more restrictive immigration policy, said more expansive visa rules would lead to illegal immigration and other problems.
"The student [visa] category has to be examined closely because it has been savagely exploited by terrorists in the past," he said.
"We have the best colleges and universities in the world, and they're here for American students primarily," he said.
Legal entry
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11 attacks legally entered the US on travel visas. Three were admitted with business visas. The 19th entered on a student visa.
The institute's report also said that while the Homeland Security Department was well-suited to some visa-related tasks -- for instance, security training for consular officers -- full responsibility for many of the general visa tasks should go back to the State Department.
The State Department still issues visas through US embassies and consulates.
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