In a major shift, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, especially those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or enrolled in sensitive academic fields. Rubio stated that the move is part of a broader national security review.

A State Department cable also instructed embassies to pause new student visa interviews until tighter vetting protocols, including social media checks, are finalized. Existing appointments will continue under current rules.

The announcement follows rising tensions with China and echoes former President Donald Trump’s push to control foreign influence in American institutions. Trump further urged Harvard University to reduce its international student numbers, questioning their allegiance to the US.

This decision comes after incidents involving international students at campus protests and reflects a growing effort to scrutinize foreign students more aggressively, potentially impacting thousands of Chinese scholars in America.