The US will begin to “actively” revoke visas for Chinese students, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that it will include those studying in important fields as ties with the Chinese Communist Party and those studying in important fields.
The announcement is the latest move in the Trump administration’s campaign, particularly against U.S. universities and international students, attempting to revoke visas for thousands of students, detain or deport political activities, and prevent international students from enrolling at Harvard.
In a statement, Rubio said the visa standards will be revised to “strengthen” all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong’s Chinese territory.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to actively revoke visas for Chinese students,” he said.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment via email outside of business hours. Beijing previously expressed opposition to the “politicization” of education exchanges, saying it would “protect the legitimate rights and interests” of Chinese students overseas.
China is the second largest source of international students in the United States after India, but it has declined in recent years amid growing tensions and turmoil in the US. From 2023-24, there were approximately 277,000 Chinese students in the United States, starting with a peak of over 370,000 in 2019-20.
International students make up about 6% of the total population of the United States’ higher education.
NBC News reported Tuesday that the Trump administration has stopped scheduling new interviews with foreigners seeking visas to study in the United States, citing US State Department cable. Cable said the suspension is geared towards applicants for expanded social media screening.
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