A report by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs finds positive economic benefits when foreign-born students work and remain in local economies after graduation, especially because many such students pursue degrees in sought-after fields, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. According to the report, which was supported by MacArthur, an outdated immigration system can reduce these economic benefits, as the temporary nature of F-1 student visas limits international students’ ability to work after they have completed their degrees.
