The US government plans to revoke visas of Chinese students, particularly those with ties to the Communist Party or working in critical research fields, as announced by Secretary of State Rubio. The exact number of affected students remains unclear, but China is the second-largest source of foreign students in the US, with around 270,000 last year.
Republican lawmakers have long advocated for stricter scrutiny of Chinese students, citing concerns over potential economic or military espionage. President Trump has escalated tensions with China, imposing high tariffs and recently suspending all foreign student visa applications pending stricter social media checks.
These measures threaten US universities, which rely heavily on foreign student tuition. Trump has also targeted Harvard, attempting to ban foreign students altogether, though a court temporarily blocked the move. Critics warn these policies endanger academic freedom.
