- Trump announces record 600,000 Chinese students to be admitted to U.S. universities.
- Current enrollment is around 270,000, with the new quota surpassing the 2019 peak of 370,000.
- Policy shift comes amid trade talks with China, emphasizing educational collaboration.
President Donald Trump announced that his administration plans to allow up to 600,000 Chinese students to enroll in U.S. universities, marking the largest number ever admitted. The announcement came as trade discussions continue with Beijing. Currently, around 270,000 Chinese students are studying at American colleges.
“I hear so many stories that we’re not going to allow their students”, Trump said at the White House. “We’re going to allow their students to come in. It’s very important, 600,000 students. It’s very important. But we’re going to get along with China”.
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This statement comes after earlier concerns about Chinese nationals studying in the U.S. In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed plans to revoke visas for Chinese students with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in sensitive fields. The Chinese Communist Party has over 90 million members.
During Trump’s first 100 days in office, more than 4,000 visas were revoked from foreign students with criminal records, including charges like arson and DUIs. The Department of Homeland Security also attempted to cancel 7,000 visas for students at Harvard University, but a federal court blocked the action.
Despite these earlier restrictions, Trump has emphasized that he supports welcoming students from China. His proposed 600,000-student quota would surpass the previous high of 370,000 in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decline in international enrollments, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Trump’s announcement reflects a shift in policy towards Chinese students, highlighting the U.S. effort to balance educational collaboration with ongoing trade negotiations.
