Trump begins « aggressively » to take visas of Chinese students
| Secretary of State Marco Rubio He pointed out that the measure would affect « those students who are related to the Chinese Communist Party or study specialties of critical importance. » |
The criteria will be revised to « strengthen the control » of future visa candidates from China and Hong Kong, Rubio said.
Relations between Beijing and Washington have exacerbated in recent months in the trade war on duties provoked by Trump.
On Monday, top US diplomat Rubio ordered the US embassies in the world to stop scheduled for student visa interviews as the State Department is preparing to expand the bans through social media of these candidates.
US and China must talk and Trump to say what he wants
According to estimates, about 280,000 Chinese students studied in the United States last year.
Under the leadership of President Trump, the US State Department will work with the Ministry of Homeland Security for the aggressive deprivation of visas of Chinese students, including those related to the Chinese Communist Party or trained in critically important areas.
Marco RubioUS Secretary of State
« We will also review the criteria for visa issuance to strengthen the control of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. »
The Trump administration has already taken steps to deport a number of foreign students, and also cancel thousands of visas. However, many of these actions were blocked by the courts.
In the past, Chinese citizens have been the largest group of international students at American universities, but this has changed in recent years.
From the restrictions during the pandemic to the worsening relations between the two countries, the number of Chinese students has decreased, according to data from the US State Department.
Many international students are heavily affected by the planned changes in visa regime.
Some of them told the BBC that they regret chose to study in the United States.
| « I’m already sorry, » says a 22-year-old Shanghai student, who follows a master’s degree and did not want to be named in order not to endanger her education visa at the University of Pennsylvania. |
Beijing has not yet reacted specifically to the US decision to take away visas of Chinese students.
But earlier on Wednesday, China responded to the Trump administration’s decision to cancel student visas meetings around the world.
« We are calling on the US side to protect the legal rights and interests of international students, including those from China, » a Chinese official statement said.
