The academies issued a 3-page warning after hearing "numerous" reports of immigration problems from academic researchers and seeing the impact on several of its own meetings, says Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences. The restrictions "are having serious, unintended consequences for American science, engineering, and medicine," says the 13 December statement, which was also signed by William Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, and Harvey Fineberg, president of the Institute of Medicine. To prevent future disruptions, they ask the Department of State to reinstate a "pre-cleared" status for foreign scientists who travel frequently to the United States, create a special visa for researchers with solid credentials and invitations from U.S. scientists, and consult with U.S. scientists on which fields should raise red flags.

Facing criminal penalties for granting visas to terrorists, consular officials have a strong incentive to err on the side of extreme caution. The academy presidents urge the State Department to provide them with some type of counterweight that would help ease the entry of "scholars who benefit our nation." A State Department official familiar with the problem says the suggestions are 'helpful and on target--we're already working to make them happen." But progress could be slow. Congressional action might be needed to address the consular liability issue or to carve out special visas for visiting scientists.

The number of foreign students at 20 major research universities rose by 4% this fall, to 36,656, according to a survey released last month by the Association of American Universities. But there has been a 10% drop in the number of foreign faculty and researchers on campus, the survey found, and more students and scholars reported visa delays or denials than in the previous year. Those numbers could climb in the short run, as the government struggles to beef up security reviews and set up programs aimed at monitoring foreign students and scrutinizing foreign graduate students studying in 'sensitive" fields. Those plans are expected to be released shortly for public comment.

--DAVID MALAKOFF