National Security Leaders Praise Policy Changes to Increase Competitiveness

For Immediate Release

Contact: Stacey Hutchinson
stacey@monumentadvocacy.com

Washington, D.C. – Today, Leaders on the Council on National Security and Immigration (CNSI) praised the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State’s new policy changes that will enhance America’s ability to innovate and compete with other countries.

These new directives will provide greater educational opportunities to attract students to U.S. universities, as well as expand research opportunities within academia and the private sector. With this news, the CNSI reiterates its call for Congress to continue this progress and increase the number of STEM visas in order to keep graduates with degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) here in the U.S.

In September 2021, CNSI released a white paper on high-skilled immigration that detailed the competitive landscape as well as called for policy changes from Congress to enhance the United States’ national security posture.

CNSI Leader and former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., praised the announcement today, “Being able to compete with countries such as China in STEM fields is vital to America’s long-term success. These new changes from the State Department and DHS are good steps forward to recruiting and training professionals at the highest level of innovative fields. But now Congress must act to ensure that these highly-trained professionals stay in the U.S. It makes no sense to spend the time and money to train students, and then force them back abroad. High-skilled immigration is an economic issue and a national security issue, and we need a whole-of-government approach to guarantee our success.”

READ CNSI Leaders Elaine Dezenski and Stewart Verdery’s Morning Consult piece from September calling for an increase in STEM visas for high-skilled immigrants.

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