Who Pays?
New Study Considers Cost of Foreign Students
Contact: Bryan Griffith
press@cis.org, (202) 466-8185
WASHINGTON (May 2008) Lobbying groups frequently claim that foreign students are a benefit to Americas balance of payments, comparable to a booming export sector. For instance, the Institute for International Education (IIE) asserts that foreign students contributed a net $14.5 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2006-07 school year by paying for tuition and living expenses with resources from abroad, representing a net inflow of nearly $25,000 per year, every year, from the average foreign student.
To assess these claims, the Center for Immigration Studies has published a new Backgrounder, Who Pays? Foreign Students Do Not Help with Balance of Payments, written by immigration researcher David North. Acknowledging other, non-financial reasons the United States might benefit from admitting foreign students, North examines the most recent IIE report on foreign students monetary contributions and compares it to two other studies on the subject. His report finds that the balance-of-payments claim is totally without merit.
The complete report is available online at http://www.cis.org/articles/2008/back608.html and includes the following findings:
# The IIE assumes that the only cost to the domestic sources is tuition. However, partially hidden subsidies from U.S. sources, such as endowments and taxpayer contributions to state schools, are not taken into consideration.
# The IIE report relies on questionable data collection techniques, using foreign student advisers as a primary source for determining whether students funding originated overseas or domestically. In the most recent year, little more than half of the foreign student advisers surveyed even responded to the surveys question on the origin of students resources.
# While the IEE claims that two-thirds or more of foreign students funding comes from abroad i.e., money pumped into the U.S. economy from abroad other, more rigorous studies that surveyed the students themselves have produced very different results. In prior research, the author found that only 10.4 percent of the foreign students incomes came from overseas, the rest coming from U.S. sources. A multi-agency survey of doctoral students found that only 9.7 percent of foreign students resources came from overseas.
# # #
The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent research institute which examines the impact of immigration.
2008 American News Articles
MAY 2008
May 22, 2008: Who Pays? New Study Considers Cost Of Foreign Students.****
May 14, 2008: Obama Needs To Be Cautious With Latinos***
May 13, 2008: Iowa Immigration Raid Is Biggest In U.S. History***
May 13, 2008: States, Locals Swamp Immigration Programme***
May 12, 2008: Dim Outlook For H-1B Changes In This Congress***
May 5, 2008: Border Runners Turn To Pacific****
May 5, 2008: Experts: Poor Economy Raises Immigration Backlash***
May 5, 2008: Consulting Firm Settles H-1B Discrimination Case****
May 5, 2008: AZ Governor Gets Bill Targeting Drop House Providers **
May 4, 2008: Why So Angry About Illegal Immigration?****
May 4, 2008: Bill Would Punish Nations That Reject Own Emigrants****
May 2, 2008: GOP Convention To Mull Immigration Resolution**
APRIL 2008
April 25, 2008: Arizona Border Enforcement Gets 21 More Prosecutors**
April 25, 2008: Hispanic Activists: Local Law Enforcement Should Not Have Role**
April 24, 2008: Pennsylvania House Race Mirrors Maze Of Immigration Issue**
April 24, 2008: County Declares English Its Official Language**
April 23, 2008: Agents May Use Paintball Guns At Border***
April 22, 2008: The Engine Of Change***
April 22, 2008: Capitol Hill Sparks Fly Over Guest Workers***
April 22, 2008: White House Defends NAFTA As Bush Meets With Heads Of Mexico, Canada**
April 22, 2008: White House Defends NAFTA As Bush Meets With Heads Of Mexico, Canada**
April 22, 2008: “Catch The Illegal Immigrant” Roils Tech Campus**
April 21, 2008: On Temporary Visas, Skilled Workers Are Putting Down Real Roots***
April 21, 2008: The Cost Of Care***
April 21, 2008: Immigration Tops Agenda At North American Summit**
April 12, 2008: Prosecutors Target Lucrative Migrant Smuggling Operations***
April 12, 2008: Boeing To Replace 9 Towers At Border**
April 11, 2008: Feds Frustrated By Illegal Immigrants Passing Through Holes In New Border Fence***
April 11, 2008: Bill Would Require Verification Of New Hires' Citizenship Status**
April 7, 2008: Illegal Immigrant Births–At Your Expense***
April 7, 2008: Ranchers Say Wall Could Keep Infested Cattle Out**
April 4, 2008: An Advocate For Iraq's Displaced Christians**
April 3, 2008: States Think Smaller, Slower On Immigration****
April 3, 2008: Deadline Set On Citizenship Background Checks***
April 3, 2008: The Most Dangerous Gang In America***
April 3, 2008: California Congressmen Lobby For Imprisoned Border Patrol Agents**
April 2, 2008: Candidates' Immigration Stances Unknown To Voters***
April 2, 2008: Feds To Fly Drones Along U.S. Borders***
April 2, 2008: Homeland Security Blinks On Real ID: No Hassles On May 11**
April 2, 2008: Arizona's 'Virtual' Border Wall Gets A Reality Check**
April 2, 2008: Obama Scoffs At Deportations***
April 1, 2008: Three Firms Combine On Cellphone Remittances****
April 1, 2008: Tech Firms Line Up At U.S. Visa Window***
April 1, 2008: U.S. Starts Deporting Vietnamese Illegals***
April 1, 2008: Mexican Gov't To Aid Expelled Migrants**
April 1, 2008: Mexicans Deported From U.S. Will Get Free Ride Home**
April 1, 2008: Mexican 'Mobile Consulate' Runs Smoothly**
April 1, 2008: South Texas Leaders Blast Plan To Speed Up Border Fence**
April 1, 2008: Dual Citizenship Gains Popularity With Americans Of Italian Descent**
MARCH 2008
March 31, 2008: Mexican Drug Cartels Move Into Human Smuggling***
March 31, 2008: Where U.S.-Mexico Border Fence Is Tall, It Works***
March 31, 2008: Critics: Revised 'No Match' Worker Rule Still Flawed**
March 24, 2008: No Coyote Needed: New Paper Examines Visa Overstays****
March 12, 2008: Lord Multiculturalism**
March 5, 2008: Is There Really An IT Labour Shortage?****
February 2008
February 29, 2008: Federal Authorities In L.A. Take Down Alleged Immigrant-Smuggling Ring**
February 28, 2008: Islamic Center Leader Pleads Guilty To Immigration Fraud**
February 26, 2008: U.S. Naturalization Applications Surge: Study*
February 26, 2008: Senate Backs Immigration Bill*
February 23, 2008: New Tactics To Control Immigration Are Unveiled**
February 22, 2008: 6 Charged in Immigrant Smuggling Scheme**
February 22, 2008: Groups Protest Guatemalan ID's*
February 22, 2008: Colorado Considers Recruiting Farm Workers From Mexico**
February 22, 2008: Feds To Raise Fines For Hiring Illegals*
February 21, 2008: Iraqis Nabbed In Mexico, Headed To U.S. With Fake I.D.'s***
February 21, 2008: Canal Levels Rise, Pose Greater Risk For Illegal Crossers**
February 21, 2008: Sanctuary Law Tabled Until “Community Has Healed” *
February 21, 2008: Texas Cities Oppose Border Fence**
February 20, 2008: Man Admits Arranging Fraudulent Marriages***
February 20, 2008: Most States Give Green Light To Tamper-Proof ID's**
February 20, 2008: Tending The American Melting Pot*
February 20, 2008: Guard Member Sentenced*
February 20, 2008: Courts Unable To Keep Up With Border Arrests**
February 19, 2008: Obama Says Immigration Should Not Be Used As 'Political Football” **
February 19, 2008: Hatch, Bennett: No Federal Immigration Changes In Sight***
February 19, 2008: Specter Decries Cost To Hold Deportable Alien Criminals**
February 18, 2008: Ad: Immigration Costs Blacks Jobs**
February 18, 2008: Illegal Emigres Defy The Image–Fastest Growing Source? It's India.***
February 17, 2008: America Tightens Entry Rules**
February 17, 2008: More Illegal Immigrants Are Rushing To File Taxes*
February 17, 2008: Housing Slowdown Puts Day Labourers In Limbo*
February 17, 2008: Immigration Reform High On Clinton's To-Do List**
February 16, 2008: Hispanic Birthrate Is Changing State's Look*
February 15, 2008: Crackdown On Illegal Immigrants Spurs Debate*
February 13, 2008: Many People Want To Know Why It Is Even Necessary To Map Every Mosque***
February 12, 2008: Immigration Projected To Drive America's Population Growth***
JANUARY 2008
January 24, 2008: North Koreans Rally In Hopes Of Asylum**
January 24, 2008: In A New Tactic, Border Patrol Targets Immigrant-Smuggling 800 Miles From Border**
January 24, 2008: Immigration Bill Targets Employers
January 24, 2008: Clinton's Hispanic Edge
January 24, 2008: GOP Candidates Talk Tough On Learning English, But Also Advertise In Spanish
January 23, 2008: Rise Of Chavez Sends Venezualans To Florida**
January 23, 2008: Vietnam Agrees To The Return Of Deportees From The U.S.**
January 23, 2008: Chertoff Expects More Border Violence
January 23, 2008: Mexican Politicians Say Migrants Returning Because Of Arizona Law
January 23, 2008: Surge Cited In Attacks On U.S. Border Agents
January 23, 2008: Bill Would End Tuition Break For Illegal Immigrants
January 23, 2008: Man Indicted In Scheme To Help Finance Smugglers
January 22, 2008: Asylum Program Falls Short For Iraqis Aiding U.S. Forces**
January 21, 2008: U.S. Faces 'Grave Threat' In Drug Fight
January 21, 2008: Illegal Immigrants Being Fired In Face Of Federal Crackdown
January 20, 2008: Mount Rainier Council To Vote On Becoming 'Sanctuary' City
January 20, 2008: Resorts Increasingly Turning To Foreigners For Service Jobs
January 20, 2008: From Green Card To U.S. Passport
January 20, 2008: New U.S. Citizens Could Sway Vote
January 20, 2008: State Asked To Do The Math Of Immigration
January 18, 2008: New Rules For U.S.-Canada Border To Start Next Month
January 3, 2008: Public Forums On Illegal Immigration In The Works In Virginia Beach
January 3, 2008: Brazilians Leave Florida For Home**
January 3, 2008: Quinceanera Ritual Divides Catholics**
January 3, 2008: Lawmakers: Immigration Is One Of The Top Issues This Year
January 3, 2008: Spanish-Language Papers Sending Reporters On Campaign Trail
January 3, 2008: Sanctions Law Debuts Quietly; Long-Term Impact Uncertain
January 3, 2008: U.S. Dollar Decline Impacts Immigrant Remittances
January 3, 2008: Getting Tougher On Illegals; ICE Program Trains Deputies
January 3, 2008: Mexican Farmers Protest NAFTA
January 3, 2008: Border Agents Assaulted At “Unprecedented” Rate**
January 2, 2008: For Republicans, Contest's Hallmark Is Immigration
January 2, 2008: Eager To Vote, But Stuck In Citizenship Process
January 2, 2008: Many Fresh Direct Workers, Facing Immigration Status Test, Quit Jobs
January 1, 2008: Ron Paul Furious Over Fox Debate Snub
January 1, 2008: Hospital Reflects Census Data
January 1, 2008: Activist Fails To Rally Blacks On Illegal Immigration Issue
