DHS Proposes End to 'Startup Visa'

The Department of Homeland Security on Friday proposed rescinding a program established by the Obama Administration that helps foreign investors move to the United States.

The International Entrepreneur Rule, also known as the "startup visa" rule, was established to help foreign entrepreneurs gain "parole" status so they could stay in the U.S. temporarily without being formally admitted into the country. It had been delayed a week before it was due to be implemented last July, but the judge overturned that delay and ordered that the rule be implemented, which it technically has been for several months, though it's believed that no one has benefited from it as of yet.

"The DHS is proposing to end the IE parole program, and remove or revise the related regulations, because this program is not the appropriate vehicle for attracting and retaining international entrepreneurs and does not adequately protect U.S. investors and U.S. workers employed by or seeking employment with the start-up," the department wrote in a draft released Friday for public inspection.

The department told The Washington Times in a statement that the rule "represents an overly broad interpretation of parole authority, lacks sufficient protections for U.S. workers and investors and is not the appropriate vehicle for attracting and retaining international entrepreneurs.

"The Secretary believes that limited agency resources that are needed for other adjudications programs should not continue to be expended on this program, especially given the sort of difficult, complex, resource-intensive adjudications that the IE Final Rule requires, particularly in relation to other parole determinations, and the uncertain status that entrepreneurs would obtain," the draft reads.

"Therefore, in removing the IE Final Rule, DHS is proposing to defer to Congress on whether, and if so how, to best create a specific immigration pathway that addresses the unique and varied characteristics of foreign entrepreneurs through the legislative process."

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