Trump student visa halt could hurt DMV economy
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About 5% of the approximately 1.1 million international college students studying abroad in the U.S. are doing so in D.C., Maryland or Virginia.
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.
- A big drop in international students could hurt college town economies, some of which are already struggling due to lower enrollment.
By the numbers: Of all international students in the U.S. during the 2023-24 school year, about 1.1% were in D.C.
- Around 2.2% were in Maryland, and about 1.9% in Virginia.
International students contributed $572.8 million to D.C.'s economy during the 2023-2024 school year.
- In Maryland, they contributed $1 billion, and in Virginia, $807.2 million.
Flashback: Earlier this year, the Trump administration canceled visas and terminated immigration status for students at area schools like George Mason, Georgetown, Howard and George Washington.
The big picture: The student visa pause comes as the Trump administration has been criticizing U.S. colleges and universities for failing to crack down on what it describes as heightened antisemitism as students protest Israel's actions in Gaza.
- The State Department is considering broader vetting of student visa applicants' social media posts.
- 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 told Axios' Marc Caputo.