“We are a tolerant, free society, and we are open for business!” Those were the words I heard my Dad say to my Mom as he walked out the door to work today.
As a family, we, like so many others, watched in horror the media’s live updates of the carnage of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. I paid close attention on the Armed Forces Network to several calls by prominent United States government officials asking for restrictions on immigration to the United States.
Having lived in foreign countries for most of my life, I believe it is important to not allow acts of violent extremism and the resulting calls for immigration restrictions to discourage travel to the United States, or somehow allow the intolerant to win the philosophical argument presently facing our nation. Speaking as an American, I know my countrymen are way better than a handful of panic attackers about to wet their pants that they might have to help a refugee or two.
Most foreign travelers to the United States arrive on what are called “Nonimmigrant” visas. A visa is a little like a permission slip put inside a passport by the government of the country a traveler would like to visit. There are several different categories of Nonimmigrant visas, but most people who visit the United States each year come with tourist/business visas. Other types of visas include student, work, and exchange visitor visas. U.S. government officials working at Embassies and Consulates abroad approve applications for visas for qualified travelers. It is very important to note that these travelers are not coming to the United States to reside permanently (i.e., become immigrants). They must show during their visa application interviews that their stay is temporary in order to be approved for travel to the United States.
Citizens of many countries do not need visas to visit the United States, so long as they are staying for a short period of time and are only visiting as tourists or attending business concerns. This is called the Visa Waiver Program. These travelers cannot legally attend schools or work in the United States. There are other types of visas travelers can get for those purposes, and visa officers are more than happy to approve, again, qualified applicants. Finally, the citizens of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program must first notify the U.S. government of their travel plans before embarking on a flight to the United States.
Now with the introduction of how to visit the United States behind us, let’s focus on some ‘big picture’ stuff. Like, specifically, why we must not discourage people from visiting the U.S., even in the face of global terrorism and extremism. I’ll try to argue my belief from three angles: the importance of freedom, encouraging the promotion of the best ideas to make the USA a better place to live in, and some good old-fashioned self-interest.
Americans for the most part take their freedoms seriously and for good reason. Americans believe that people have the right to freely express what they believe, freely pursue happiness so long as it complies with the law, and freely decide how they want to earn their living and what they want to buy. I believe the adherence to freedom rights is one reason so many people from around the world visit the United States each year. They also want to share in the freedoms that Americans enjoy each day, freedoms that are protected by law. Calls for immigration and travel restrictions to the United States score a huge victory for extremists because they don’t want people to be able to express their views and live their lives freely. (I am sure that violent extremists must have many other reasons for engaging in terrorist acts, I’m just focusing on one here.)
Have you ever heard the cliché, ‘the cream rises to the top?’ Well, that is just another way of saying that the best ideas win the day… so to speak. By encouraging freedom and visitors from around the world, the United States benefits from the great ideas of others as well as its own citizens. If Americans heed the call of some to restrict travel and immigration, then Americans run the risk of falling behind other countries in regards to innovation to create new or improve existing technologies. In short, the coming together of diverse people from around the world fosters creativity unless there are restrictions or rules in place to discourage or prohibit the freedom to communicate new ideas. The day that communication is restricted, in my opinion, is the day democracy dies.
Finally, it is in the self-interest of Americans to welcome visitors to the United States. Tourists are even better than free advertising—they actually pay to receive all of the advertisements about why the USA (or any other tourist haven) is so great. Think of it as if you, the individual, are America, the country. People are actually paying money to come see you, buy your stuff at your garage sale, pay to stay for a short period in your bed and breakfast, and then return to their homes after a short visit just to see you. Instead of looking to decrease the number of visitors, the United States should double down and advertise more. And, this is why. The long term effects of restricting or discouraging people from visiting the United States as a means to combat violent extremists has far-reaching consequences way beyond just a discussion about security.
And anyway, if we are honest with ourselves, restricting good people from coming to our country isn’t going to make the bad guys try to hurt us less. In fact, it would likely make them feel like they are winning.
In sum, Americans should increase calls to welcome visitors with chants of “We are a tolerant, free society, and we are open for business!” By issuing student visas, the United States has the means to attract some of the best minds the world has to offer. By issuing tourist and business visas, the United States can display all of the great things a free society has to offer and encourage business ties throughout the world.
Sources:
For further information on traveling to the United States, please visit www.travel.state.gov
For further information on the rules and procedures for traveling to the United States on the Visa Waiver Program, please visit www.uscis.gov
