U.S. To 'Aggressively' Start Revoking Visas For Chinese Students, Says State Secretary Rubio
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the United States will begin revoking visas for some Chinese students, particularly those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in “critical fields.” The decision marks a renewed effort by the Trump administration to curtail academic and research ties between American universities and China, citing national security concerns.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” Rubio wrote.
The move comes amid escalating Republican pressure on higher education institutions to sever relationships with Chinese universities and scholars. Just hours before Rubio’s announcement, Eastern Michigan University disclosed it would end its engineering partnerships with two Chinese institutions, responding to calls from Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Rubio posted this on X and wrote, "U.S., Chinese students, visa revocation, Chinese Communist Party, critical fields, national security, international students, higher education, social media screening, Trump administration, Harvard, Duke University, research partnerships, visa delays, immigration, academic ties, Homeland Security, student protests, foreign funding, university partnerships."
China is the second-largest source of international students in the U.S., behind India. In the 2023–2024 academic year, more than 270,000 Chinese students studied at American colleges and universities, making up roughly 24.6% of all international students.
The crackdown also follows a series of actions targeting international student programs. On Tuesday, the State Department halted new visa interviews as it prepares new guidelines for heightened vetting, including expanded reviews of applicants’ social media activity. Visa applicants have been required to disclose social media handles since 2019, but Rubio indicated that the forthcoming guidelines would include “more resource-intensive” reviews.
The increased scrutiny has sown uncertainty among the international student community. Vladyslav Plyaka, a student at the University of Wisconsin who originally came to the U.S. from Ukraine, said he now feels unsafe leaving the country, even temporarily, for fear of being unable to return.
“I don’t think I have enough trust in the system at this point,” said Plyaka. “I understand it probably is done for security measures, but I would probably just finish my education for the next two or three years and then come back to Ukraine.”
Universities are grappling with the evolving situation. Northeastern University, which hosts over 20,000 international students, has reportedly created contingency plans to help those impacted by visa delays. “This is a very dynamic situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments in real time to assess any potential impacts,” said Northeastern spokesperson Renata Nyul.
More than half of all international students in the U.S. come from Asia. According to the Institute of International Education, India leads with 331,602 students (29.4% of the total), followed by China (277,398 or 24.6%), South Korea (3.8%), Canada (2.6%), and Taiwan (2.1%).
The Trump administration’s actions also target Harvard University. Last week, it barred the Ivy League institution from enrolling international students, citing alleged coordination with the Chinese Communist Party. The decision is currently on hold pending litigation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Harvard of “coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party,” and said the school had “trained members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a Chinese paramilitary group.”
Trump has publicly criticized Harvard, suggesting the university should cap its international student population at 15%. “I want to make sure the foreign students are people that can love our country,” he said Wednesday.
The administration has also ramped up scrutiny of federally funded university research. House Republicans recently criticized Duke University over its ties to a Chinese university, alleging such relationships grant China back-door access to sensitive, taxpayer-funded research.
Last year, the Education Department found that many universities underreported foreign funding, particularly from countries it deems foreign adversaries. In response, Trump ordered the department to strengthen enforcement of disclosure laws.
Critics argue the visa revocations and increased vetting could damage America’s reputation as a hub for academic freedom and global exchange. “The details remain vague, but this policy risks upending the long-standing place of the U.S. as a beacon for intellectual and cultural exchange with the world,” said Jonathan Friedman of PEN America.
Meanwhile, Trump defended the broader crackdown, asserting that students from certain countries pose a security risk. “They’re taking people from areas of the world that are very radicalized, and we don’t want them making trouble in our country,” he said.
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