The Paper Trail

MIT Grad Students Labeled ‘Security Threats’

By Alison Go

May 12, 2008 RSS Feed Print

Two oceanography graduate students at MIT have been labeled "security threats" by the Department of Homeland Security, the Tech reports. In letters detailing why the students were denied government-issued credentials that would have made access to ports and ships more convenient (an obvious hardship for an oceanography student), DHS said that the students' visa status made them a "security threat."

Although it's unclear whether this will affect their ability to travel internationally, the label has been called "just really offensive"—referring more to the language used than the denial of access. Said one of the advisers: "This outrageous wording that calls them security threats.... That's unreasonable."

Tags:
Department of Homeland Security,
MIT,
national security terrorism and the military

Reader Comments Read all comments (3)

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To commentor #1: the "lesson" we should have learned on 9/11 is that there's no such thing as "safety" and "security," especially the kind that involves relying on the government for it. The only thing that will ever come close to safe and secure is a Smith & Wesson in your hand.

The sooner we get rid of the Ministry of...I mean Department of Homeland Security, the better.

Scott M. Sandridge of OH 2:39AM May 13, 2008

To the reader above,

If someone wanted to go to America out of pure malice, they would not apply to reputed universities such as MIT. Considering the level of difficulty and degree of improbability, that would be the hardest way to go the United States. These are brilliant people who are denied their deserved education because of the bigotry and ignorance of people such as you.

Yamin of TX 11:24PM May 12, 2008

Let's remember the "students" who came to America to learn to fly airplanes. The outcome of that learning experience caused the death of over 3,000 people. So to bad to sad if foreign students are denied access to all of Americas waterways, airports, research facilities and so forth. Fool us once, shame on you..fool us twice, shame on us. Hopefully we've learned from recent history and thankfully it seems like Homeland Security is doing its job.

Reader of NY 5:28PM May 12, 2008

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