Topline
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the Trump administration will begin “aggressively” revoking visas for Chinese students, in a move that targets a group that makes up the second-largest population of international students in the U.S. and could further raise tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the state department will begin revoking visas of Chinese … More
Key Facts
In a statement released by the State Department, Rubio said the agency would work with the Department of Homeland Security to revoke visas for Chinese students, “including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.”
The secretary of state said the U.S. would also “enhance scrutiny” for all future visa applicants from China and Hong Kong.
Rubio’s statement did not specify how many students would be impacted by the action and which specific fields may be targeted.
The move comes a day after the Trump administration halted all student visa interviews to implement an expanded “social media screening and vetting” process for applicants.
What Do We Know About Chinese Students In America?
In 2023-24, Chinese nationals made up the second-largest group of the 1.1 million international students in the U.S., according to a report published by the Institute of International Education. The report said 277,398 Chinese students were enrolled in the U.S. educational institutions last year, a slight decline from 2023. India overtook China on the list for the first time, with 331,602 students enrolled in 2023-24. However, China remained the leading country of origin for undergraduates and non-degree students. Although there is no specific breakdown by country, the report cited the Department of Commerce and noted that international students “contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023.”
