The US government announced it will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, particularly those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in sensitive areas, a move that adds to growing concerns over foreign student policies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tweeted on Wednesday, “The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” He added the State Department will “aggressively” pursue these revocations.
This marks another step in the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to tighten control over international students, especially those from China — the second-largest source of foreign students in US universities. Over 270,000 Chinese students were enrolled in the US during the 2023-2024 academic year, making up nearly a quarter of all international students.
The announcement follows earlier actions this week, including a suspension of new visa interview appointments for international students. Rubio’s department is preparing stricter guidelines that will increase vetting of students' social media activity, signalling a more intensive review process. These moves have deepened uncertainty for international students already feeling pressure under the current administration.
Vladyslav Plyaka, a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student, expressed his worries to AP, “I don’t think I have enough trust in the system at this point.” Originally from Ukraine, Plyaka had planned to visit his mother in Poland and renew his visa but is unsure when he will be able to do so, fearing he might lose his chance to return to the US.
Trump targets Harvard University over international students
Adding to tensions, President Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of Harvard University, calling for a cap on foreign student admissions at 15 per cent. Currently, international students make up about 31 per cent of Harvard's enrolment, which Trump claims includes many from “areas of the world that are very radicalised.”
Trump said, “Why would 31 percent? Why would a number be so big? I think they (Harvard University) should have a cap of maybe around 15 per cent. We have people that want to go to Harvard and other schools but they can’t get in because we have foreign students there.” He further warned, “We don’t want to see shopping centres explode. We don’t want to see the kind of riots that you had… many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left.”
Harvard, however, has resisted the government's demands for data on its foreign students and has filed a lawsuit against the administration, which cut over $2.6 billion in federal grants to the university. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Harvard’s response to requests for student records “fell short,” leading to the administration’s attempt to block the university from enrolling international students — a move temporarily halted by a federal judge.
Impact on international students and US universities
The evolving policies have left many students uncertain about their futures in the US. A graduate student from China, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “There’s a growing fear among us… We came here to learn and contribute. Now we’re treated as threats.”
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association representing international educators, said the suspension of visa appointments “will do further damage to the U.S. reputation as a destination country.” She added, “International students and scholars are tremendous assets that contribute to U.S. preeminence in innovation, research, and economic strength. Undermining their ability to study here is self-defeating.”
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one international student from Vietnam described a “constant unease” due to the uncertainty, cancelling a planned trip home this summer and regularly checking with the university’s international office to confirm legal status.
Visa categories and economic stakes
The visa pause affects three main categories: F-1 visas for full-time accredited students, J-1 visas for exchange programmes, and M-1 visas for vocational or non-academic courses. In 2024, around 1.1 million international students were enrolled in the US, a significant source of revenue for tuition-driven colleges, as these students often pay full fees and are ineligible for federal aid.
Universities are bracing for the impact. Northeastern University, with over 20,000 international students, has “contingency plans” for those facing visa delays, according to spokesperson Renata Nyul. She said, “This is a very dynamic situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments in real time to assess any potential impacts.”
Since 2019, visa applicants have had to provide their social media handles for review. The State Department’s new guidelines suggest an even more resource-intensive vetting process, although exact details remain unclear. Jonathan Friedman of PEN America warned, “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.”
The administration’s aggressive stance extends beyond visa control. Earlier this year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and attempted to deport students involved in pro-Palestine campus protests. It also abruptly ended, then partially restored, legal protections for thousands of international students, expanding the grounds for losing study permissions.
(With inputs from AP)
The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2025
This marks another step in the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to tighten control over international students, especially those from China — the second-largest source of foreign students in US universities. Over 270,000 Chinese students were enrolled in the US during the 2023-2024 academic year, making up nearly a quarter of all international students.
The announcement follows earlier actions this week, including a suspension of new visa interview appointments for international students. Rubio’s department is preparing stricter guidelines that will increase vetting of students' social media activity, signalling a more intensive review process. These moves have deepened uncertainty for international students already feeling pressure under the current administration.
Vladyslav Plyaka, a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student, expressed his worries to AP, “I don’t think I have enough trust in the system at this point.” Originally from Ukraine, Plyaka had planned to visit his mother in Poland and renew his visa but is unsure when he will be able to do so, fearing he might lose his chance to return to the US.
Trump targets Harvard University over international students
Adding to tensions, President Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of Harvard University, calling for a cap on foreign student admissions at 15 per cent. Currently, international students make up about 31 per cent of Harvard's enrolment, which Trump claims includes many from “areas of the world that are very radicalised.”
Trump said, “Why would 31 percent? Why would a number be so big? I think they (Harvard University) should have a cap of maybe around 15 per cent. We have people that want to go to Harvard and other schools but they can’t get in because we have foreign students there.” He further warned, “We don’t want to see shopping centres explode. We don’t want to see the kind of riots that you had… many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left.”
Harvard, however, has resisted the government's demands for data on its foreign students and has filed a lawsuit against the administration, which cut over $2.6 billion in federal grants to the university. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Harvard’s response to requests for student records “fell short,” leading to the administration’s attempt to block the university from enrolling international students — a move temporarily halted by a federal judge.
Impact on international students and US universities
The evolving policies have left many students uncertain about their futures in the US. A graduate student from China, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “There’s a growing fear among us… We came here to learn and contribute. Now we’re treated as threats.”
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association representing international educators, said the suspension of visa appointments “will do further damage to the U.S. reputation as a destination country.” She added, “International students and scholars are tremendous assets that contribute to U.S. preeminence in innovation, research, and economic strength. Undermining their ability to study here is self-defeating.”
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one international student from Vietnam described a “constant unease” due to the uncertainty, cancelling a planned trip home this summer and regularly checking with the university’s international office to confirm legal status.
Visa categories and economic stakes
The visa pause affects three main categories: F-1 visas for full-time accredited students, J-1 visas for exchange programmes, and M-1 visas for vocational or non-academic courses. In 2024, around 1.1 million international students were enrolled in the US, a significant source of revenue for tuition-driven colleges, as these students often pay full fees and are ineligible for federal aid.
Universities are bracing for the impact. Northeastern University, with over 20,000 international students, has “contingency plans” for those facing visa delays, according to spokesperson Renata Nyul. She said, “This is a very dynamic situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments in real time to assess any potential impacts.”
Since 2019, visa applicants have had to provide their social media handles for review. The State Department’s new guidelines suggest an even more resource-intensive vetting process, although exact details remain unclear. Jonathan Friedman of PEN America warned, “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.”
The administration’s aggressive stance extends beyond visa control. Earlier this year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and attempted to deport students involved in pro-Palestine campus protests. It also abruptly ended, then partially restored, legal protections for thousands of international students, expanding the grounds for losing study permissions.
(With inputs from AP)
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