Trump administration to 'aggressively' revoke Chinese student visas
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More news: US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has said that the Trump administration will being to “aggressively revoke” visas of Chinese students studying in the US. The statement released by the US State Department follows the government’s order to stop scheduling new student visa appointments on Wednesday.
Approximately 280,000 Chinese student currently study at US colleges, meaning a visa ban could present a huge disruption to the income of universities across the country.
Rubio’s State Department statement reads: “Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. 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.”
US halts new student visa interviews, weighs expanded social media vetting
The news: The Trump administration ordered a halt to new student visa interviews as it weighs expanding social media vetting of applicants, according to a diplomatic cable obtained and reported by Politico.
The State Department cable instructed consular sections to stop scheduling new appointments for student or exchange visitor visas (F, M and J categories) “effective immediately,” with further guidance expected in coming days, according to the report.
The directive could severely delay processing and hurt universities reliant on foreign students.
According to the report, subsequently matched by Bloomberg and The Guardian, the Trump administration is weighing expanding social media screening to cover all student visa applicants, not just those flagged for activism.
It would examine posts, shares and comments for potential threats to national security or antisemitism.
The numbers: There are over a million foreign students in the US who contribute nearly USD43.8 billion to the country’s economy, according to NAFSA figures cited by The Guardian.
The context: The directive follows previous measures targeting students, including those involved in pro-Palestinian protests, and the Trump administration's broader efforts to restrict university operations it deems overly liberal.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that thousands of visas had already been revoked and warned more revocations would likely come.
The administration last week also attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling international students, and on Monday announced plans to cancel USD100 million in federal contracts with the school. It has also threatened to divert billions in grant dollars away from the university.
The sources: Politico, Bloomberg, The Guardian, Reuters
