What happens when politics meets campus life?
The Trump administration just turned up the heat on Chinese students studying in the US — and it’s causing quite a stir.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a plan to “aggressively” revoke visas of Chinese students.
This plan targets especially those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying sensitive subjects.
Why The Crackdown Now?
Tensions between Washington and Beijing have been skyrocketing thanks to trade wars and mutual suspicion.
Last year, there were roughly 280,000 Chinese students in America.
That number’s already been dropping due to the pandemic and political fallout.
Rubio’s team is also pausing visa appointments worldwide.
They are tightening social media checks on applicants, sparking protests from Beijing.
Chinese officials called on the US to “safeguard the rights” of international students.
Meanwhile, universities like Harvard are caught in the crossfire.
They rely heavily on international students who pay higher tuition.
But visa revocations and frozen funding are shaking their foundations.
Harvard’s international office director, Maureen Martin, described the fallout as “significant emotional distress.”
Students are skipping graduations, canceling travel plans, and fearing forced returns to dangerous situations.
