Trump Administration to ‘Aggressively’ Revoke Visas of Chinese Students

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans to “aggressively” revoke visas of Chinese students, a major revenue stream for U.S. universities, marking another escalation in its dispute with higher education institutions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement, signaling defiance following China’s criticism of his decision the previous day to temporarily suspend visa appointments for students globally.

This move comes as the administration has already sought to rescind authorization for all international students at Harvard University, amid tensions over campus protests.

“The United States will aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” Rubio said in a statement.

“We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong,” he said.

For years, young Chinese students have played a critical role at U.S. universities, which depend heavily on full tuition payments from international students.

According to a State Department-backed report from the Institute of International Education, China sent 277,398 students to U.S. institutions during the 2023-24 academic year, although India surpassed China for the first time in years.

During his previous term, Trump also targeted Chinese students, mainly focusing on those studying sensitive subjects or having direct links to the Chinese military. However, it remains uncertain whether Rubio’s recent remarks signify a further escalation in the administration’s stance.

China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Wednesday said Beijing urged Washington to “safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of international students, including those from China.”

Rubio has already highlighted the revocation of thousands of visas, primarily targeting international students who participated in activism critical of Israel.

A cable signed by Rubio on Tuesday ordered US embassies and consulates not to allow “any additional student or exchange visa… appointment capacity until further guidance is issued” on ramping up screening of applicants’ social media accounts.