hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Mandates colleges report non-citizen students, faculty, administrators to SEVIS.
Senator Cotton (R-AR)
Introduced in Senate, referred to committee.
This bill, introduced by Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, would require all colleges receiving federal funds to submit lists of their non-U.S. citizen students, faculty, and administrators to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This information, disaggregated by visa type, would be accessible to multiple federal agencies. The bill is currently in its initial stage, having been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.
Introduced Mar 24, 2026
This bill was introduced in the Senate on March 24, 2026, and has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. For it to move forward, the committee must approve it, then the full Senate would need to vote on it. If it passes the Senate, it would then go to the House of Representatives for their consideration before it could potentially become law.
If passed, all colleges and universities receiving any federal money would be required to collect and submit private data about their international students, faculty, and administrators to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This information would then be accessible to multiple federal departments, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Education, and Department of State. This expanded data collection and sharing could lead to increased monitoring or changes in how international individuals are handled within the education system.
Supporters Say
Supporters would argue this bill increases transparency and national security by tracking non-citizens in higher education.
Critics Say
Critics may argue it could infringe on privacy, create a chilling effect for international students, and increase administrative burden on colleges.
Those in favor would likely emphasize the importance of monitoring individuals on visas within educational settings for national security purposes, ensuring compliance with immigration laws, and providing federal agencies with necessary information. Opponents might raise concerns about the privacy rights of non-citizens, the potential for profiling or discrimination, and the administrative and financial burden this new reporting requirement would place on colleges and universities, possibly deterring international talent from studying or working in the U.S.