Background

In May 2025, the Donald Trump administration successively introduced three restrictive policies targeting international students. Firstly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an order directing all U.S. embassies and consulates to immediately suspend new student visa interviews to improve social media screening procedures. The policy allows applicants who have already scheduled interviews to continue with their processes, but new applicants will face indefinite delays. California, a major hub for international students, is projected to have over 50,000 people affected by this policy. Among them, the University of California, Davis (UCD), where 9% of the student body consists of Chinese students, has been particularly hard hit. Secondly, the Department of State announced it would “actively revoke” visas held by some Chinese students, including those affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party and those engaged in research in critical fields. Harvard University has become a specific target of this policy: The Trump administration accused Harvard of concealing illegal activities by international students and allowing anti-Semitic activities to flourish on campus, endangering national security. It also claimed Harvard is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs. The White House froze USD 2.65 billion in federal grant money to the university and banned it from admitting new international students.

Impact Analysis

Economically, the state of California is already facing a USD 12 billion budget deficit. The University of California system may now face a 3% budget cut as a result of these policies. The loss of international students could further worsen the financial situation for the state and local communities. Other universities with large international student populations are also expected to suffer similar consequences.

For the student community, there is an immediate threat to academic continuity. One student from UC Santa Barbara, who goes by the pseudonym “Hu Hu”, shared in an interview that without having taken China’s Gaokao (college entrance exam), he would have no place to continue his studies if his visa were revoked. He also faces significant financial losses due to a rental contract commitment extending through 2026. International students also expressed concerns that these policies could fuel discrimination. A student from Dubai described the atmosphere on campus as being filled with “worry and fear.”

The policy changes are also reshaping the global landscape of international education. As a result of U.S. restrictions, prospective international students may shift their applications to other countries. The number of applications to institutions in Canada, the United Kingdom, and other alternative destinations is expected to see an increase.

From an academic perspective, scholars argue that these measures directly undermine “high-priority academic research” areas that the government itself has identified as strategically important. Funding cuts and restrictions on international student admissions will also generate significantly negative repercussions across academia. Current Developments

The courts have played a significant buffering role between the Trump administration’s actions and academic institutions. Federal courts have temporarily halted the administration’s plan to bar Harvard from admitting international students, and ordered reinstatement of certain revoked student visas. On May 23, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration’s policy banning Harvard University from admitting international students, requiring that the status quo be maintained until a hearing could be held. On June 4, Burroughs issued a second temporary restraining order, blocking the enforcement of Trump’s executive order that would have prohibited foreign nationals from entering the U.S. to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard, pending further legal proceedings.

In response, on June 5, the Department of State issued instructions directing consular officers to preserve visa appointment slots for affected applicants and to assess whether they otherwise qualify for entry. However, individuals seeking “to begin coursework or participate in an exchange or visiting program at Harvard University” were to be denied. Following the court’s second injunction, the Department of State reversed its June 5 directive on the evening of June 6, instructing all U.S. embassies and consulates to resume processing visas for Harvard students and exchange visitors.

Meanwhile, universities and student organizations are taking urgent measures to respond. The student union of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has passed a resolution, urging university administrators to provide “clear guidance and support” for international students targeted by the Trump administration’s policies.