US to “Aggressively Revoke” Chinese Student Visas Over Security Concerns
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 29 April: The US has announced it will “aggressively revoke” visas of Chinese students with links to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in critical fields for security reasons.
“The US will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said in a post on X on Thursday.
Additionally, visa criteria for future applicants from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong will be revised to implement enhanced scrutiny measures.
“We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong,” Secretary Rubio has said in a statement issued by the state department.
The development comes amid growing uncertainty for international students in the US as President Trump cracks down on some of America’s most elite universities, including Harvard University, for not doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus.
In response to the revocation, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning has said at a press conference on Thursday, responding to a question from a Bloomberg reporter at a regular news briefing in Beijing, that “The US decision to revoke Chinese student visas is fully unjustified. China firmly opposes it and has protested to the US over the decision.”
“This politically motivated and discriminatory move exposes US hypocrisy over freedom and openness. It will further damage the image and reputation of the US itself.”
Many view the move as potentially disrupting a major source of income for American schools and a crucial source of talent for US technology companies.
According to a report published by the State Department in 2024, China is the second-largest source of international students in the US, after India, with 277,000 Chinese students in the academic year 2023-2024.
On Tuesday, multiple news reports said, the Trump administration had sent a cable to all US diplomatic posts ordering the embassies and consulates to suspend the scheduling of new interviews for student visa applicants as the administration steps up social media vetting.
The administration revoked Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification (SEVP) last week, citing alleged coordination with the Chinese Communist Party and an unsafe campus environment characterised by antisemitism and support for terrorism.
The University has argued that the decision violates its constitutional rights, including due process and free speech protections. It has contended that the revocation lacked proper notice and an opportunity to appeal, as required by the law.
US District Court Judge Allison Burroughs has issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the enforcement of the revocation and allowing Harvard to continue enrolling international students.
