Why US is planning to 'aggressively' revoke visas of Chinese students?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US will “aggressively revoke visas” for Chinese students with ties to the Communist Party or those studying sensitive fields.

“The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields," Rubio posted on X.

The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.

Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2025

“We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong," the state department added in a press statement.

The number of Chinese students in the US has dropped to around 277,000 in 2024, down from a high of 370,000 in 2019, amid escalating tensions between the two countries and increased scrutiny of certain students by US authorities.

Visa crackdown targets Chinese students

Trump administration is taking this action to "protect Americans and rebalance" the U.S. relationship with China mentioned a state department official to Axios.

"China exploited our visa system for decades to advance the priorities of the Communist Party," the official said.

The official further accused China of intellectual property theft, stating, "They sent students to our best colleges and research universities. Many of these so-called guests in our country arrived with one purpose — to steal our intellectual property on Beijing's behalf."

Speaking about President Trump’s vision, he stated, "The President's goal is clear: we will put America first, and that means our priorities on everything from trade to immigration should benefit Americans, not other nations at the expense of our people."

There have been numerous instances where the Trump administration has taken measures targeting foreign students.

Many Chinese students, especially those studying fields like engineering, AI, and biotechnology in the US, have been viewed as a national security risk by American authorities.

Previous Trump-era policies had already imposed visa limits on some Chinese graduate students and researchers. This latest move could affect thousands of Chinese students currently studying or intending to study in the United States.

Trump vs foreign students 

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a directive to US embassies and consulates to halt new visa interviews for international students until updated rules for enhanced social media screening of applicants are finalized.

The State Department cable clarified that previously scheduled appointments will continue under existing review procedures.

Earlier that day, President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League school of admitting a large number of foreign nationals, many of whom he described as “troublemakers.”