The U.S. State Department in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security will “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday.
“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.
No other details were provided in the short statement, titled “New Visa Policies Put America First, Not China.” It did not detail which “critical fields” will be effected.
The news comes a day after the Trump administration ordered U.S. embassies to halt interviews for new student visas as it prepares to expand social media screening for all prospective applicants.
“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance … which we anticipate in the coming days,” Rubio stated.
The New York Times reported the developments are “certain to send ripples of anxiety across university campuses in the United States and spur recriminations in China.
“China is the country of origin for the second-largest group of international students in the United States, and many universities rely on Chinese and other international students paying full tuition for a substantial part of their annual revenue,” it reported.
“Until now, family members of most Chinese Communist Party officials could study at American universities. Many top party officials sent children to American universities in recent decades,” the Times added.
However concerns over Chinese spying at America’s top universities has been on the GOP’s radar for over a decade.
A 2024 House committee report raised concerns about the security of U.S.-China university partnerships, warning that these collaborations are aiding foreign technological and military advancements.
According to an April 24 article in Inside Higher Ed, more than 280 colleges and universities have reported over 1,800 students have lost their F-1 or J-1 status student visas under President Trump.
MORE: Harvard professor convicted for hiding ties to China gets new job in China
IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies before Congress / YouTube screenshot
Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.