US announces aggressive visa revocation targeting Chinese students

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
29 May 2025 10:21

The policy threatens billions in US university revenue, deepens tensions with China, and sparks legal battles.

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US flags are displayed together with Chinese flags on top of a trishaw on Sept. 16, 2018, in Beijing. (AP)

The United States will move “aggressively” to revoke the visas of Chinese students, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced, marking a sharp escalation in Washington’s ongoing visa crackdown and fueling renewed tensions with Beijing.

The decision targets individuals allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in sensitive academic fields.

Rubio’s announcement followed Beijing’s public criticism of the Trump administration’s earlier decision to suspend all new student visa appointments worldwide.

“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 stated.

Visa criteria to be tightened, social media scrutiny expanded

In addition to revoking existing visas, Rubio confirmed that the administration will revise visa criteria for all future applicants from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.

“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 added.

A cable signed by Rubio on Tuesday instructed all US embassies and consulates to freeze any new student or exchange visa appointments “until further guidance is issued.”

The pause comes amid a broader push to introduce new screening measures, including the examination of applicants’ social media history.

Beijing condemns policy as 'discriminatory'

Simultaneously, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged Washington to “safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of international students, including those from China.” The Chinese government has accused the US of politicizing education and targeting students based on nationality and political affiliations.

In the 2023–2024 academic year, 277,398 Chinese students were enrolled in US institutions, though India overtook China for the first time in years. Chinese students have historically made up a significant portion of the international student body and have contributed billions to US higher education through full-tuition payments.

The visa revocation policy reflects a continuation and intensification of Trump-era measures targeting Chinese nationals studying in strategic sectors. During Trump’s first term, his administration imposed restrictions on Chinese students involved in sensitive research or with military ties.

Rubio has also publicly celebrated the cancellation of over a thousand student visas in recent months. Many of those affected had taken part in pro-Palestine activism, especially on elite campuses such as Harvard and Stanford. He has defended these moves as necessary to protect US interests and academic institutions from foreign influence.

Elite universities under fire amid political tensions

The crackdown on student visas coincides with broader efforts by the Trump administration to exert control over American universities. President Trump has sharply criticized Harvard University for opposing his administration’s oversight initiatives, accusing it of promoting antisemitism and “woke” ideology.

A judge has temporarily blocked a federal order that would bar international students from entering the country. A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, the same day as Harvard’s graduation ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where thousands of students and families are gathering.

The White House has also stripped Harvard and other elite universities of federal research funding, prompting an intense legal backlash. Harvard has filed formal challenges against the administration’s actions.

While the measures are aimed at Chinese nationals, analysts warn that the visa freeze and new screening policies could impact international students from allied nations as well. The tightening of immigration and education policies continues to be a central feature of Trump’s reelection strategy, linking national security to academic access.

As tensions with China escalate, the crackdown on Chinese student visas may reverberate beyond universities, deepening diplomatic rifts and reshaping the future of international education in the United States.