1 day ago
Last Updated:May 29, 2025, 07:25 IST
The number of Chinese students in the US has dropped to around 277,000 in 2024, down from a high of 370,000 in 2019.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (AP Image)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the US will start revoking visas for Chinese students with ties to the Communist Party or those studying sensitive fields.
“The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields," Rubio said in a post on X.
Under President Trump’s leadership, the US 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.
“We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong," the state department added in a press statement.
China is a key target in former President Trump’s ongoing global trade war, which has sparked market volatility, disrupted supply chains, and increased the risk of a significant economic downturn.
The number of Chinese students in the US has dropped to around 277,000 in 2024, down from a high of 370,000 in 2019, amid escalating tensions between the two countries and increased scrutiny of certain students by US authorities.
The US State Department’s new guidance is ramping up scrutiny of international students, aligning with President Donald Trump’s efforts to tighten oversight of foreign students in US higher education.
In a cable issued Tuesday, Rubio ordered US embassies and consulates to suspend new visa interviews for international students until the department finalises new rules requiring more thorough vetting of applicants’ social media activity.
According to the State Department cable, existing appointments will be honoured and will proceed under the current review guidelines.
The latest announcement comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s decision to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students, which was temporarily blocked by a federal judge pending a lawsuit.
Trump said Harvard, where international students make up more than a quarter of the student body, should reduce that number. “I want to make sure the foreign students are people who can love our country," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
Earlier this year, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and sought to deport international students who had participated in campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war.
The Trump administration previously attempted to strip international students of their legal status, only to later reverse the decision amid backlash. They’ve also expanded the grounds for revoking student visas, sparking concerns about the impact on higher education.
Location :United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world US To Revoke Visas Of Chinese Students, Here's What We Know
