How Trump visa restrictions could affect Arkansas' Chinese students
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Chinese students in Arkansas are facing uncertainty following an announcement last month that the U.S. will begin revoking visas for students hailing from America's geopolitical rival.
The big picture: The move marks a major escalation in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, and came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed a halt to student visa interviews.
What they're saying: "We haven't had any students from China with visas revoked, and to our knowledge, the federal government has not contacted us about anything regarding this visa announcement," University of Arkansas spokesperson John Thomas told Axios in an email on Tuesday.
Zoom in: The University of Arkansas had 65 students from China enrolled in the spring semester, out of roughly 1,200 international students, Thomas said.
- About 6,000 international students attend colleges and universities in Arkansas overall, according to the Association of International Educators.
The latest: After Rubio's announcement late last month, the Chinese Embassy in D.C. said the U.S. should "immediately correct its mistakes and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students."
- State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce countered that prohibiting entry to the U.S. by those "who might pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety is key to protecting U.S. citizens at home."
Driving the news: Rubio made the announcement on X, saying the revocation of visas of Chinese students includes those "with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields."
- He said in an emailed statement soon after that under President Trump's leadership, the State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to "aggressively revoke" the visas.
- The Trump administration will also "revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications" from China and Hong Kong, Rubio said.
- Neither statement specified whether the directive would impact all students from China.
Zoom out: The Trump administration has targeted universities and students, policing foreign nationals' conduct and speech.