NAFSA Member Testifies on the Need to Attract and Retain International Students

On June 12, 2008, John Pearson, director of the Bechtel International Center at Stanford University, testified on behalf of NAFSA before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law at the "Hearing on the Need for Green Cards for Highly Skilled Workers."

The hearing focused on the need to allow international students who graduate with Master's degrees or higher in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (the so-called STEM degrees) to have the option to apply for green cards.

Mr. Pearson's testimony emphasized that it is vital for U.S. immigration law to be updated to allow a more direct path to green card status for international students due to the global competition for international talent and the U.S.'s need for highly skilled and educated workers.