American authorities are preparing for radical changes in the fields of immigration and security, particularly concerning Chinese students seeking education in the United States
According to unofficial sources from diplomatic circles, the U.S. Department of State plans to revoke visas for Chinese students who have connections with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or study in areas deemed critical to national security. This step is aimed at increasing control and preventing potential threats to national security, as currently more than 275,000 students from China are studying in the U.S., making them the second-largest group of international students after those from India. In a statement to CNN, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that collaboration between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security is already actively underway to implement new measures. The main goal is not only to cancel existing visas for such students but also to complicate the process of obtaining new ones in the future. "We will also review visa criteria to strengthen vetting procedures for all future applications from the territory of the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong," the official emphasized. Data from the Institute of International Education (IIE) and an official State Department report indicate that this academic year, the United States has a record number of Chinese students. Moreover, many of them actively participate in research, innovation, and technological programs, which particularly interests American intelligence agencies and security services. This is exactly the factor that underpins new measures aimed at countering potential threats. The new initiatives have emerged amid nationwide changes in U.S. immigration policy. For instance, the day after the announcement of plans to restrict Chinese students, the State Department announced the suspension of issuing new student visas worldwide as part of preparations for more rigorous social media background checks of applicants. This signals a significant shift in the country’s approach to controlling foreign student mobility. Amid these events, it is important to recall the historical context. On May 22, a federal court in California ruled that the administration of former President Donald Trump is prohibited from revoking the lawful status of foreign students for studying and employment in the U.S. This case became one of the most significant challenges to immigration policy in the past decade and demonstrated that the American judicial system has substantial influence on shaping and implementing immigration initiatives. Clearly, these new measures aimed at controlling and restricting visas for Chinese students are part of a broader strategic effort by the United States to enhance national security and protect intellectual property. At the same time, they raise questions about potential impacts on bilateral relations with China and on international academic mobility. Currently, it remains unclear how exactly this policy will be implemented and how strict the new screening criteria will be. However, it is already evident that the United States is entering a new chapter in its approach to immigration policy, focused on ensuring the country’s security in today’s global context.