ICYMI: Houston Chronicle Highlights Gus' Student Visa Bill

May 31, 2011

To help improve student visa security and close a loophole that has allowed terrorists into the U.S., Gus in March introduced a bill to strengthen the student visa program. Read more about his legislation, and the support he has received from the Texas Congressional delegation, in a May 28 article from the Houston Chronicle:

Ted Poe, Michael McCaul warn of terror threat from foreign students in Texas

"Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., has introduced legislation that aims to end student visa program abuse by potential terrorists by significantly tightening reporting requirements for students and universities alike. Teaming up with Bilirakis are two Texas Republicans, Reps. Ted Poe and Michael McCaul.

"Finding a terrorist needle in the haystack of international students attending American universities has proven to be a difficult task for the State Department and Department of Homeland Security. In 2010, more than 7,300 of nearly 800,000 foreign students nationwide left their programs prematurely, but remained in the country illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Not all of these students are criminals, Bilirakis said, but it only takes a few to threaten national security."