Leaders of eight Arkansas colleges and universities signed a letter asking the state’s senators and representatives to support immigration policy that would address an inability “to retain and capitalize on the talented individuals we are training in our universities.”
The letter, dated Thursday, was part of a nationwide effort organized by the Partnership for a New American Economy, an immigration policy advocacy group whose co-chairmen include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch.
Through that effort, more than 100 higher-education leaders from 10 states signed nearly identical letters to push for passage of immigration policy that would ease caps on visas and create a “pathway to citizenship” for students whose parents brought them to the United States illegally from other countries when they were young.
“Many of our bright future students came to this country as children and have been unable to take advantage of an American education and contribute to our economy because of their status,” the letter said.
Arkansas’ letter was signed by Joel Anderson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock;Paul Beran, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith; Sally Carder, president of National Park Community College; Steve Cole, chancellor of Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas; Glen Fenter, president of Mid-South Community College; Margaret Ellibee, president of Pulaski Technical College; Jack Lassiter, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello; and Skip Rutherford, dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School for Public Service.
Ben Thielemier, who coordinated Arkansas’ letter, said he offered presidents and chancellors of all of the state’s colleges and universities a chance to sign it.
Rutherford said he’s developed a renewed interest in immigration legislation after discussions with ClintonSchool students from around the world who are affected by U.S. immigration policies.
“I think from an economic-development standpoint, it is crucial and critical to our state,” he said.
The letter said many graduate students in high-demand science and technology fields are temporary residents, that immigrant-owned businesses contribute to the state’s economy and that allowing people living in the country illegally to seek residency or citizenship would boost Arkansas’ gross state product.
Some Arkansas higher-education leaders signed a similar letter last year.
“I am not nor ever will be an advocate of amnesty,” Cole said. “What I am is a strong advocate for meaningful and logical immigration reform, especially as it applies to higher education.”
In response to the letter, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican, said in a statement that he appreciated“the input from these local leaders.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, a Republican, said in an email that under current law, “many highly skilled, foreign-born students study in the U.S. but are forced to leave the country after graduation, allowing our nation’s global competitors to capitalize on their skills and productivity.”
“That’s like Arkansas recruiting the best college football players from Texas, training them on our offense, and sending them back to Texas to compete against us,” he said.
Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford said he supported the STEM Jobs Act, a bill that would provide as many as 55,000 visas each year to foreign-born graduates of U.S. universities with advanceddegrees in science, technology, math and engineering.
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, a Republican, said in a statement that he is “confident that we can find common ground that allows us to maintain thiseducation investment without amnesty.”
A spokesman for Sen. Mark Pryor, a Democrat, said he supported the Senate’s immigration bill, which he called “the strongest border security bill in history.”
That bill, passed by the Senate in July, would allow people brought into the U.S. illegally before they turned 16 to apply for permanent residency and citizenship if they have been in the country at least five years and completed high school and some college or served in the military.
“Those who have been in the shadows for decades will be taking responsibility for their actions by paying owed taxes, fines, and penalties; contributing to Social Security; helping reduce our deficit;and strengthening our economy,” Pryor said in a statement about that bill.
A spokesman for Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton did not return a phone call seeking comment Friday.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 09/21/2013