The University addressed two recent State Department actions impacting international students and scholars from China and foreign visa applicants in a Federal Updates newsletter sent Thursday.
The first, an order Secretary of State Marco Rubio made on Tuesday, temporarily halted interviews for foreign citizen students applying for student or exchange visas. The second, announced by Rubio the following day, stated that the Trump administration would begin revoking visas of Chinese students, “including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.”
According to the newsletter, the federal government has not provided additional details and, for now, it is unknown how or when these changes will affect international students or scholars at the University.
“We will engage in a thorough analysis as we seek clarification on recent announcements so we can determine the most appropriate ways to move forward,” wrote Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for strategic communications and marketing, in a statement to The Daily Illini.
International Student and Scholar Services Director Martin McFarlane released a similar statement Thursday to students and scholars from China and Hong Kong, calling Rubio’s announcement “deeply unsettling.” He also wrote the ISSS office is reaching out individually to students whose status has changed.
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This week’s State Department announcements targeting international students are not the first actions taken since President Donald Trump took office in January. The federal government revoked visas of over 4,700 foreign students — including several at the University — although the Trump administration paused the effort and reinstated the visas on April 25.
More broadly, these actions reflect growing tensions between the Trump administration and higher education over federal funding for universities, free speech on campuses, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and more.
Speaking to the New York Times in March, Chancellor Robert Jones said that in his lifetime working in higher education, he has never seen such distance between university leaders and the federal government.
While the outcome of this specific situation is uncertain, policies affecting international students could have dramatic consequences for universities around the country — especially the UI System.
With 15,376 international students enrolled in 2023-24, the University has the sixth most international students of any university in the nation, and the second most among public institutions. A majority of these international students also come from China and would be directly affected by Rubio’s proposed actions.
Tuition revenue from international students is vital for public universities, and according to University administration, international students are part of what makes the University “unique.”
“There can be absolutely no doubt that international diversity is a foundational element to Illinois’ overall excellence,” the newsletter read. “International students and scholars offer unique perspectives and talents that enrich the academic experience.”
