International students in Texas left in limbo
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Texas has more international students than nearly every other state, per data from NAFSA, an international education nonprofit.
Why it matters: The Trump administration is halting student visa interviews and revoking visas for Chinese students amid a political pressure campaign against colleges and universities and a broader immigration crackdown.
- The revocation of Chinese students' visas in particular is tied to concerns that their government is using them "to steal intellectual property on Beijing's behalf," a State Department official tells Axios.
Plus: International students face uncertainty under the Trump administration's travel ban, which took effect this week.
- While the White House says current visa holders aren't directly affected, the policy has sown confusion — and blocks prospective students from several countries.
By the numbers: Of all international students studying in the U.S. during the 2023-24 school year, about 8% were doing so in Texas, third behind only California (12.5%) and New York (12.1%).
Zoom in: The University of Houston appears to be especially exposed to the administration's crackdown.
- In fall 2024, over 5,000 international students, or 10.5% of the student body, were enrolled in the school, per university data.