As ordered by Congress, males over the age of 16 who carry temporary visas from certain Middle Eastern countries will have to register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service between January and March.
These countries, which are identified by the State Department as having ties to terrorism, include Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea and Yemen.
According to Judy Brodd, UW-Madison director of International Student Services, student visas require full-time enrollment.
This requirement became a problem for six Middle Eastern students, who were studying in Colorado, when they went to register at the INS office in December and were arrested for failing to maintain full-time status. The students were jailed and required to post $5,000 bonds.
The students from University of Colorado-Denver, Colorado University at Boulder and Colorado State University were kept in jail for up to 48 hours before posting bond.
According to Mark Hallett, director of international student services at Colorado State University, the INS office in Colorado follows the new federal requirements strictly.
\What we've found in Colorado is our local INS office has taken a very black and white stance,"" Hallett said. ""Even a minor infraction or even when there are not infractions on their visa status, if it looks to them like there may be an issue there, they will throw them in jail.""
Students who go to register at the INS office are fingerprinted, interviewed, photographed and asked to fill out forms for personal information, such as addresses and an explanation of what they are doing in the United States.
UW-Madison Dean of Students Luoluo Hong said the regulations made in reaction to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks tend to single out international students.
""American citizens weren't the only ones hurt in that act of terrorism,"" she said. ""It is painting us as the only ones who were victims.""
Along with the registration requirement, the INS has also instituted a computer-based tracking and monitoring system called the Student Exchange Visitor Information System, which must be in place and ready to use by Jan. 31.
According to Brodd, schools will be required to update SEVIS information on a nightly basis. This information includes a student's enrollment, start date of the student's next term, financial information and address, as well as a failure to enroll in classes or a drop in the number of credits.
Brodd said SEVIS is already in place at UW-Madison and so far there have been no incidences like the those in Colorado.
""We've had no complaints from the INS office in Milwaukee and there has been no detention that we are aware of,"" she said.
While Hallett said he sees these regulations are the justice department's effort to know who is in the country, he also said the government should be careful how they carry out these laws.
""At least locally here, it's been implemented in a severe manner and it's really scaring the Islamic community,"" he said.
Hallett also said since Sept. 11 it seems as though U.S. citizens have not spoken out about preserving civil liberties.
""It's like there has been a death in the family and it is not appropriate to speak out yet,"" he said.
