US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the United States will begin revoking the visas of Chinese students who have connections with the Chinese Communist Party or who are pursuing studies in sensitive fields.
In a post on X, Rubio stated, "The US will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." This move reflects ongoing tensions between the two countries amid broader geopolitical and trade disputes.
The US has seen a significant decline in the number of Chinese students enrolling in American universities. In 2019, Chinese student enrollment reached approximately 370,000 but dropped to around 277,000 in 2024. This reduction is attributed in part to heightened political tensions and the implementation of stricter visa and admission controls by the US government.
Recent guidelines from the US State Department have intensified scrutiny over international students, aligning with efforts initiated during former President Donald Trump's administration to restrict foreign admissions at US academic institutions.
This announcement follows the Trump administration's controversial move to block Harvard University from enrolling new international students, a decision currently under legal review after being temporarily suspended by a federal judge. Trump criticized the university for having over 25% international students and suggested limiting this proportion to about 15%, emphasizing the desire for foreign students who "can love our country."
Additionally, earlier in the year, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and sought to deport international students involved in campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The administration had initially terminated the legal status of thousands of international students but later expanded criteria under which students could lose permission to study in the US.
The new visa revocation policy is part of a broader US strategy to tighten national security and control foreign influence within educational institutions amid ongoing trade conflicts and diplomatic strains with China.
