U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to aggressively revoke visas of Chinese students in the United States, particularly targeting those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. The move aims to curb perceived national security risks of Chinese influence on U.S. universities.
China is the second-largest source of international students in the U.S., with over 270,000 enrolled during the 2023-2024 academic year, accounting for roughly a quarter of all foreign students. The Trump administration will also increase scrutiny of future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. China condemned the decision as politically motivated and harmful to students’ rights.
The Trump administration recently also targeted Harvard University, suspending its ability to enroll foreign students, primarily due to the school’s handling of pro-Palestine protests.
