1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about recent proposals for continuous vetting of 55 million visa holders threaten to restrict their rights, including free speech rights. The United States founding principles of free speech and open discourse have been instrumental in fostering innovation, driving, economic growth, and maintaining our global leadership in technology and research. Our tech companies and universities rely heavily on the talents of international professionals and students. By creating an environment where these individuals feel unable to speak or move freely, we risk deterring the very people who contribute significantly to our nation's technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs. This will lead to a brain drain, with top talent choosing to work or study in countries with less restrictive policies. Such policies will also negatively impact our tourism industry, which is already hurting from recent actions taken by this administration. The perception of America as a place where visitors must self-censor will discourage international travelers, further harming our economy and cultural exchange programs. Congress must act decisively to investigate any policies or actions that (1) infringe on the free speech rights of visa holders; (2) hold public hearings to shed light on the impact of this broad and on-going review of all visa holders; and (3) use budgetary powers to restrict funding that aim to curtail speech or unduly burden visa holders by continuous vetting. The strength of our democracy lies in the robust exchange of ideas and the freedom to criticize those power. Congress must act decisively to protect these fundamental rights for all.