[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 91 (Thursday, May 25, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2017

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of international 
students, scholars, and the U.S. institutions of higher education they 
attend who have been unfairly penalized by the administration's efforts 
to limit travel to our country.
  I'd like to share with you the story of Khalid AI-Awadhi, an 
undergraduate student at CU Boulder from the United Arab Emirates, who 
is studying electrical and computer engineering.
  Khalid is president of CU International, a campus organization that 
helps international students adjust to campus life. He is well known 
for his welcoming demeanor and enthusiasm. Khalid is driven by his 
commitment to make CU Boulder a better learning experience for all 
international students. The personal connections he has built have 
truly made a difference for the experience of hundreds of students on 
campus by building bridges and connecting cultures.
  May is a critical month on the college calendar. Many currently-
enrolled international students and scholars will choose not to travel 
home at the end of the academic year, for fear they might not be 
allowed to return in the fall. In addition, the anti-immigrant rhetoric 
and uncertainty created by our broken immigration system makes the 
United States less attractive to the students and scholars who we want 
to contribute to our campuses and communities.
  To ensure our nation's security, economic wellbeing, and academic 
leadership, we must remain an open and welcoming United States. So, to 
the international students and scholars who may be unsure about coming 
to study at institutions like CU Boulder and Colorado State, I say: 
Your contributions are valued and you are welcome here.

                          ____________________