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AsianFin -- In a move likely to intensify tensions with China and further strain U.S. higher education, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the Trump administration will "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students," particularly those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in sensitive academic fields.

Rubio said the State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to implement the revocations and will revise visa policies to tighten scrutiny on all future applications from Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.

U.S. will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, Rubio said.

The announcement follows a series of steps by the administration that could discourage international students from choosing U.S. universities. The State Department had directed embassies to suspend new student visa appointments while expanding social media screening. Last week, the administration moved to revoke Harvard University’s authority to enroll international students—a decision temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also confirmed that similar actions against other universities are under active consideration.

According to data from the Institute of International Education and the State Department, over 275,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. during the 2023–2024 academic year, making China the second-largest source of international students after India

U.S. colleges and universities depend heavily on international students, not only for tuition revenue but also for their contributions to research and innovation.