WASHINGTON, May 29 – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday announced that the United States will begin revoking visas for Chinese students, especially those linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or enrolled in “critical fields” of study.
Rubio posted the decision on X, saying the State Department will “aggressively” implement the policy. “We must protect our national interests,” he said, citing security concerns over China’s access to sensitive technologies.
The decision could affect thousands, as Chinese students made up over 270,000 of all international students in the US during the 2023–2024 academic year—roughly one in four foreign students, second only to those from India.
Visa interviews for new applicants were suspended on Tuesday as the department prepares enhanced vetting guidelines, including monitoring students’ social media activity.
The move has sparked anxiety among international students across the country. “I don’t think I have enough trust in the system at this point,” said Vladyslav Plyaka, a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student from Ukraine who planned to travel to Poland for a visa renewal.
The clampdown comes days after the Trump administration attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling international students, a decision temporarily paused by a federal judge following legal challenges.
Trump defended the policy on Wednesday, stating, “Harvard has over 25% foreign students. That should come down to around 15%. I want to make sure the foreign students are people that can love our country.”
This follows earlier ICE actions targeting student protestors, including arrests and deportation proceedings against those involved in demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war.
The evolving restrictions mark a new phase of the Trump administration’s hardline stance on foreign student programs, especially those seen as posing national security risks.
