US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the government will begin cancelling visas of certain Chinese students. This includes students studying in sensitive fields or those with links to the Chinese Communist Party. This move comes during a week of major developments, creating more uncertainty for international students in the US.

China is the second-largest source of foreign students in the US, after India. In the 2023–2024 academic year, over 270,000 Chinese students were enrolled in American schools, nearly 25% of all international students. Rubio said that, under President Trump’s leadership, the US State Department will team up with the Department of Homeland Security to take strong action and cancel visas of students with Communist Party ties or those studying in key areas.

US tightens rules 

The US government is taking tougher actions against Chinese students and universities, following increasing pressure on American colleges to reduce their ties with China. Recently, House Republicans urged Duke University to end its partnership with a Chinese university, saying the collaboration gave Chinese students access to sensitive US-funded research.

Trump targets Harvard 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has temporarily suspended Harvard University's ability to admit new international students. DHS has accused Harvard of working with the Chinese Communist Party through research partnerships and training members of a Chinese paramilitary group.

This announcement came a day after the US government paused visa interviews for new international students, likely preparing for stricter checks.Speaking from the White House, President Donald Trump strongly criticized foreign students. He said, "We don't want to see shopping centres explode or riots. Many of those students didn’t go anywhere, they were troublemakers connected to the radical left."

The Trump administration’s efforts to tighten student visa rules have faced major backlash. Earlier this year, immigration officers arrested and tried to deport students who joined protests. The administration also temporarily cancelled the legal status of thousands of international students before revising the visa rules.

Harvard has become a key target in this conflict, as more than 27% of its students come from other countries. Trump said this number should be reduced to 15%, adding, "I want to make sure foreign students are people that can love our country."