The Trump administration’s recent moves to further restrict Chinese students’ access to US education are sending ripples of doubt through families in China, prompting many to reconsider their children’s academic futures abroad.
For some, the American dream is giving way to more pragmatic alternatives closer to home or in other Western nations, as the United States’ unpredictable approach to international students makes them ponder the returns on investment in their children’s overseas education.
The latest wave of uncertainty crashed ashore last week when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US would revoke visas for Chinese students with ties to the Communist Party or those studying in “critical fields”.
That followed an abrupt suspension of student visa interviews worldwide as the administration considers stricter vetting measures, including screening of potential students’ social media posts.
US president Donald Trump added to parents’ concerns on Wednesday, when he proposed cutting the proportion of international students at Harvard University from 30 per cent to 15 per cent, claiming that American students were losing opportunities.
That remark came just days after the Department of Homeland Security attempted to block Harvard from enrolling international students, a move later halted by a federal judge. On Thursday, the Trump administration said in a court filing that it would not immediately terminate Harvard’s ability to host international students, giving the university 30 days to explain why it should keep that ability.
