JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RULE PREVENTS IMMIGRANTS FROM WORKING ON IT PROJECTS

A recent article in Washington Technology revealed that, earlier this summer, the Department of Justice issued an order barring noncitizens from working on information technology projects unless they obtain a waiver.  This new rule applies to people currently working on IT projects, and because of it they have had to stop working until they can obtain a waiver.  According to the Justice Department, the rule is designed to enhance security. 

The rule is opposed by the Information Technology Association of America, which last month sent a letter to the Department seeking a meeting to talk about it.  According to the president of the ITAA, Harris Miller, while hacking is an issue in all IT programs, there is no credible evidence that immigration status or national origin makes a person more likely to engage in such actions.  In addition, the organization is concerned that the rule could become precedent for other federal agencies.

While many of the projects that will be affected by the new rule will continue without incident, largely because such high security clearances are mandated that only citizens have been working on them, others will be delayed.  Some observers note that the order, which will affect primarily contractors, as there are few IT professionals working directly for the Justice Department, seems contradictory to the free market stance of the Bush Administration in most other areas.  They wonder if the real motivation is to prevent foreign nationals from learning technologies and taking them home.