Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa House has passed a bill that would forbid ALL Iowa colleges, universities, and community colleges from hiring students from China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, or Syria who are in the U.S. on a temporary H-one-B Visa. Those countries are considered foreign adversaries of the United States.
Republican Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull says it’s about national security, preventing espionage, and protecting sensitive research.
The policy would take effect on July 1st. Representative Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat from Waterloo, says it will affect hundreds of students, teachers, professors, and researchers in Iowa’s public and private colleges, including 300 at the University of Iowa, over 100 at Iowa State University and 16 at UNI.
Wheeler says U.S. universities are for Americans first.
The bill passed on a 68-to-27 vote and now goes to the Senate.
KIWA Staff Photo
