Schools Played a Part in 9/11

More information is coming out on how 9/11 happened. A Saudi Arabian man was arrested in northern Virginia. He was charged with fraudulently taking 50 english-language proficiency tests that allowed other foreign student visa-holders to remain in the country illegally. This is part of a larger problem in which U.S. schools basically sold visas to foreigners so they could pocket the tuition and the foreigners would be allowed to stay in the United States.

Many of the beneficiaries are Saudi Arabians. Of course, most of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia.

The government should examine every one of the estimated 73,000 schools that have the ability to issue a form, known as an i-20. These forms accompany a school’s acceptance letter and allow someone to begin obtaining a student visa.

There will be opposition to this, because the schools make a lot of money and risk losing students. Political pressure is also a factor. But if we care about homeland security, we had better make these schools more secure. I’m Cal Thomas in Washington.

Originally published June 28, 2002.