America’s Cold Shoulder to Foreign Students Is Worrying Asia
A prestigious American degree has long been part of the Asian Dream. Students and parents are now being forced to think twice.
The US is giving foreign students the cold shoulder.
Photographer: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
An Ivy League degree has long been central to the Asian Dream — a ticket to success and status. But President Donald Trump’s message to international students is clear: Far fewer of you are welcome. The blunt statement and growing chaos across the university sector has left families wondering if sending their children to America is still worth it.
The White House’s immediate target is Chinese students allegedly connected to the Communist Party. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US plans to start “aggressively” revoking their visas. Students affected would include “those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” The US will also enhance scrutiny “of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong,” he added.