美国天主教主教团吁 ICE 豁免外国修生 7 万美元 OPT 费用
华盛顿消息：美国天主教主教团总法律顾问威廉·J·奎因与天主教法律移民网络执行主任安娜·加拉格尔致函国土安全部长马克韦恩·穆林（Markwayne Mullin），呼吁移民与海关执法局（ICE）重新考虑拟议的 7 万美元 OPT 费用，并为外国修生提供全面豁免或费用减免。信中指出，ICE「似乎完全没有考虑准备从事宗教服务者面临的独特处境」，神学院属于参与学生与交流访问者项目（SEVP）的认证机构。
按国土安全部 10 月 8 日公布的拟议规则，学校为留学生首次申请毕业后实习（OPT）出具推荐前须缴纳 7 万美元，之后每次推荐再缴 3 万美元，学校可将费用转嫁给学生或雇主；公众意见征集已于 11 月 9 日截止，规则尚未生效。
关联：加州总检察长牵头多州联盟反对OPT新规：高校须为每名国际学生付最高10万美元
U.S. Catholic Bishops Urge ICE to Exempt Foreign Seminarians From $70,000 OPT Fee
Washington — William J. Quinn, general counsel of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Anna Gallagher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, have written to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reconsider its proposed $70,000 OPT fee and to grant a full exemption or fee reduction for foreign seminarians. ICE "seems to have completely failed to consider the unique circumstances of those preparing for religious service," the letter said, noting that seminaries are certified institutions under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Under the proposed rule published by the Department of Homeland Security on October 8, a school must pay $70,000 before issuing its first recommendation for a student's post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), and $30,000 for each subsequent recommendation, and may pass the cost on to students or employers; the public comment period closed on November 9 and the rule has not taken effect.
Related: California Attorney General Leads Multistate Coalition Against OPT Rule
来源：美国天主教主教团
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：位于华盛顿的国家圣母无玷始胎圣殿资料图，美国天主教主教团总部同在华盛顿。维基共享资源 CC BY-SA 4.0。 / Photo: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington (file photo); the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is also headquartered in Washington. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story
