U.S. President Donald Trump [Photo=White House]

Calls are growing within the United States, led by the Republican Party, to completely cancel visas for Chinese international students and suspend their issuance. 

The influential U.S. media outlet Newsweek reported on the 21st (local time) that as allegations of China's interference in U.S. elections and cyber espionage—recently disclosed by President Donald Trump—have emerged as major political issues, pressure to impose immigration sanctions on China for national security reasons is expanding into the realm of visas.

Rep. Luna Sends Letter to Secretary Rubio… Requests Immediate Suspension of F-1 and J-1 Visas

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly urging the immediate suspension and cancellation of all F-1 (student) and J-1 (exchange visitor) visas currently held by Chinese nationals attending U.S. higher education institutions. Furthermore, she demanded an immediate halt to the issuance of any new student visas currently under review. 

 There are currently 265,919 Chinese students enrolled in U.S. universities. This is the second-largest group in the U.S. after India. [Graphic=Open Doors]

According to the latest Open Doors report on international educational exchange, there are currently 265,919 Chinese students enrolled in U.S. universities. This represents the second-largest group in the U.S., following India. If Representative Luna's demands are realized, over 260,000 Chinese students would be directly affected.

In her letter, Rep. Luna stated, “The student visa system can be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a potential pathway for influence operations targeting U.S. democratic institutions,” arguing that American universities remain vulnerable to foreign intelligence operations.

Trump: “China Obtained 200 Million Voter Records”

This push for action is significant as it comes shortly after President Trump cited recently declassified information, accusing the Chinese government of conducting the “largest cyber espionage campaign in history,” including the illegal acquisition of 220 million sensitive voter records from the 2020 election cycle. A 2021 U.S. intelligence assessment concluded that China did not alter the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Beijing immediately countered, calling the claims “baseless and intended to smear China.” Nevertheless, demands for visa crackdowns from hardline Republicans are gaining rapid momentum.

Rep. Riley Moore is pushing the "CCP Visa Revocation Act," which would completely prohibit the issuance of student visas to Chinese nationals, stating, "We cannot allow our enemies to train to destroy us." Rep. Mary Miller also took to social media to call for the termination of student visas, citing China's threat to national security.

Immigration Regulations Initiated Amid Expected Backlash from Universities

It remains uncertain whether the administration will take the extreme step of canceling all visas for Chinese students. Because Chinese students contribute approximately $14.6 billion (about 20 trillion KRW) annually to the U.S. economy, a total cancellation could have significant repercussions for U.S. universities, regional economies, corporate groups, and diplomatic relations.

Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. [Getty Images=Newsweek]

However, restrictions on the stays of international students are becoming a reality. The Department of Homeland Security has recently finalized a plan to abolish the existing "duration of status" system applied to F, J, and I visa holders and replace it with fixed stay limits. Consequently, international students will now require separate approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend their stay.

Separately, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Education have launched investigations into whether China-based financial support programs at Harvard University violate federal anti-discrimination laws, escalating pressure on China-related academic and scholarship projects.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee