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International student applications decline, dean signs letter to reform H-1B visa program, create Heartland visa BRITTANY GORNY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
International student Himangini Banwari came to the U.S. with “low expectations” of working here after graduation. Immigration and visa policies have made it increasingly difficult to do so, according to Paul Tesluk, dean of the School of Management. Tesluk has now joined 69 other business school deans and CEOs from across the country by co-signing a letter, asking U.S. government leaders to re-examine current visa and immigration policies. He says they wrote the letter because of “outdated” laws, students’ immigration status concerns, the “difficulty” of getting an H-1B employment visa –– which allows students to have careers in the U.S. after graduation –– and “safety” in response to “anti-immigrant rhetoric” in recent policies. The letter says these concerns close “the door to the high-skilled immigrants” who the economy “needs to thrive.” U.S. business schools have seen a 13.7%
Lynne Dixon and Mark Poloncarz differ in vision, approach
JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA FEATURES EDITOR
Local elections have never been as popular as the presidential election, but local government has a tangible impact on the local community. Voters can impact the future of important local issues on Election Day Tuesday. In Erie County, open positions include Justice of the Supreme Court, County Legislator –– for several districts –– and County Executive. On Tuesday, County Executive Mark Poloncarz runs for a third four-year term against County Legislator Lynne Dixon. County Executive is the Chief Executive Officer of the county government. Their responsibilities include supervising departments within county government as administrative head and handling the county’s budget as Chief Budget Officer of the County. We explained the major aspects of the candidates’ campaigns to help eligible students choose which candidate is right for them. Lynne Dixon County Legislator Dixon is representing the Republican, Independence, Conservative and Serve America Movement parties on the ballot. She has served in County Legislature since 2009 and has represented a variety of communities. Dixon grew up in Amherst and prior to her political career, was a WGRZ reporter for 12 years before her political career..
decline in international applicants in 2019, the largest decline in the world, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s Application Trends Survey Report. UB’s business school applications declined by nearly two-thirds in the past three years, according to The Buffalo News. Net migration to the U.S. is down 12% from 2017 to 2018 and wait time for visas has nearly doubled, according to Fortune. “It’s a function of the immigration policy and the rhetoric from Washington and the Trump administration,” Tesluk said. “Visa processing has slowed down dramatically, denial rates of employment visas have increased significantly. It’s become more and more difficult for high-skilled talent to be able to have employment opportunities in the U.S.” The Supreme Court passed the Trump administration’s Executive Order 13769 in December 2017, which imposed a travel ban barring immigrants from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela from entering the U.S. Between 2017 and 2018, immigration from these countries decreased by 72%,
Dixon said she is running for county executive because “taxes are too high” and the “government spends too much.” Dixon criticizes Poloncarz for borrowing money for construction on county roads, bridges and parks which she says rests unspent. Dixon says she intends to do a “better job” with long-term planning and maintenance if she is county executive. Dixon said she will not push a political agenda if elected. “I’m an independent and I don’t care about party labels or parties and politics,” Dixon said. “I only care about doing the right thing and the right ideas.” Dixon typically votes in accordance with her Republican colleagues, according to The Buffalo News. Poloncarz criticized her for voting alongside former representative Chris Collins and attempted to associate her with Collins, even though some of her votes opposed Collins’, according to The Buffalo News. Dixon says if the economy is “doing well” and the county begins to receive more sales-tax revenue than expected, she will support a property tax relief, according to The Buffalo News. Dixon opposes recreational marijuana and would not “opt in” to legalizing it if the state does. Still, she supports the decriminalization of recreational marijuana and the legalization of medical marijuana. Dixon opposes implementing a fivecent fee for paper bags after the plastic bag ban in March. Internal Republican polling indicates Dixon has a “surprisingly high” level of support although her campaign has roughly half the money of Poloncarz’s, according to Rebublican leaders.
according to the Migration Policy Institute. The H1-B visa is a temporary work visa that allows professionals to work in the U.S., according to SGM law group. Applying for an H1-B visa requires an employer’s sponsorship and the applicant to go through a lottery process. The U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services randomly selects applicants. The letter asks government leaders to “reverse additional steps that have been imposed on international students applying for H-1B visas,” according to Tesluk, which he says have become more “restrictive” and “debilitative.” It also calls for a Heartland program which would give incentives to organizations that employ international students after graduation. It would also help smaller regions in attracting international talent. John Wood, interim vice provost for international education, wrote in an email that the letter is a “timely intervention.” “The letter addressed legitimate concerns about the current posture of the U.S. and how that limits our ability to attract and retain global talent to fill critical needs in our workforce and economy,” Wood wrote in an email. Wood wrote international students’ applications were increasing until this fall,
Mark Poloncarz County Executive Poloncarz is representing the Democratic and Working Families parties on the ballot. He is the current county executive, now in his second term. Poloncarz grew up in Lackawanna and served as county comptroller for six years before serving as county executive. Poloncarz is seeking a third term and his ongoing goals include “a balanced county budget, without raising taxes; better parks and libraries; a stronger [Erie County Medical Center] and a new clinic; and the best economic climate in decades.” Poloncarz proposed a tax increase in his first budget in 2013, which was rejected by the county legislature. He has not proposed a tax-rate increase since. Although tax rates have not increased under Poloncarz, tax levy –– the actual amount of money raised –– has increased by 24%. He boasts lower tax rates and increased investments in “county roads, parks, libraries and cultural organizations.”
but some programs have been decreasing prior. “A more challenging immigration environment has contributed to this, but it is not the only factor,” Wood wrote in an email. “Nationally, we have seen a decline in total new international enrollment each of the past three years, and that is not a good trend.” Tesluk said less international student enrollment “dramatically decreases diversity in academic programs” while “the world is only becoming increasingly more diverse.” He said many companies are having trouble finding the right applicants, which will only get more difficult, since companies are trying to find high-tech business-related skills that a lot of immigrants have. Claudia Cabrera, a sophomore economics major, came to UB from Peru and visited the U.S. when she was seven years old, which is when she decided she wanted to make it her college destination. In Peru, college is “just a building” where students go to study and go back home, she said, but she fell in love with campus life in the U.S. Still, she said applying for a visa was “really scary,” because she’s seen so many people get denied after being accepted to a university in the U.S. and having all the right documents. “I decided to take the risk, because I like how college works here,” Cabrera said. She now works as an international admissions ambassador, where she said she > SEE IMMIGRATION POLICY | PAGE 2
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Dixon criticizes Poloncarz for taking “too long” on construction projects and not using all the money he allocates to those projects. Under Poloncarz, roughly 60% of borrowed money that was allocated to maintenance and improvements of park shelters, restrooms and roads was unused, according to The Buffalo News. Poloncarz said the figures must be due to negligent bookkeeping practices by the counties Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, according to The Buffalo News. Poloncarz does not have a definitive stance on recreational marijuana. Poloncarz has supported banning plastic bag distribution by retailers “in many situations,” according to The Buffalo News. He expressed support for a five-cent fee for paper bags, an initiative the county legislature has not acted upon. Email: Julian.grmela@ubspectrum.com Twitter: @GrmelaJulian