US will aggressively revoke visas for Chinese college students, says Marco Rubio

The US authorities will begin cancelling visas of Chinese college students, together with these finding out in important fields or with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, stated US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. This announcement comes amid a series of developments this week which have added to the rising uncertainty amongst international college students within the US.

After India, China is the second-largest supply of worldwide college students within the US. For the 2023-2024 faculty 12 months, over 270,000 college students from China had been finding out within the US, making up about one-fourth of all international college students.

“Under President Trump’s management, the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese college students, together with these with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or finding out in important fields,” Rubio stated in a press release.

This motion is a response to mounting stress on US universities to chop their ties with China. House Republicans not too long ago known as on Duke University to finish ties with a Chinese college, saying the collaboration offered Chinese college students with entry to important analysis funded by the United States.

TRUMP VS HARVARD

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has quickly stopped Harvard University from enroling new worldwide college students, accusing the college of “coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party” by way of analysis partnerships. DHS additionally accused Harvard of coaching members of a Chinese paramilitary group.

Rubio’s announcement got here a day after the federal government paused visa interviews for brand new worldwide college students in anticipation of tighter scrutiny of candidates.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters within the White House Oval Office, US President Donald Trump focused international college students. He stated, “We do not wish to see purchasing centres explode. We do not wish to see the type of riots that you simply had, and I’ll let you know what, a lot of these college students did not go anyplace, a lot of these college students had been troublemakers brought on by the novel left.”

The actions of the Trump administration to impose restrictions on worldwide college students have been on the centre of controversy. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and tried to deport college students who participated in protests earlier this 12 months. The administration additionally quickly cancelled the authorized standing of hundreds of worldwide college students earlier than altering the principles on scholar visas.

Harvard is on the centre of this battle. The college is house to over 27% of worldwide college students. Trump stated the share ought to be lowered to fifteen%. “I wish to be sure that the international college students are folks that may love our nation,” he stated within the Oval Office.

TIGHTER RULES FOR VISAS

The US authorities can even study visa candidates’ social media accounts extra ceaselessly. Social media handles have been required of visa candidates since 2019, however Rubio stated the brand new guidelines will enhance scrutiny, significantly for these from China and Hong Kong.

After freezing billions in federal funding to the long-lasting college, the Trump administration paused Harvard’s capacity to enrol worldwide college students. These strikes adopted Harvard’s refusal to share details about international college students and handle antisemitic incidents on campus. In response, Harvard has sued the administration for its actions.