GOP Backs Trump’s Plan
Republican senators are backing President Trump’s aggressive effort to crack down on foreign student visa abuse, saying the actions are long overdue in protecting national security and American values.
While some critics worry that deportations and arrests may hurt university profits, conservatives say safety and sovereignty matter more than tuition checks.
International Students Pour Billions Into the U.S.—But at What Cost?
Last year alone, international students spent $43.8 billion in the United States. Top states for foreign enrollment include California, New York, and Texas, where universities increasingly rely on foreign tuition to fill budget gaps.
Yet as student numbers surge post-COVID—reaching a record 1.1 million enrollees in the 2023–2024 school year—many Americans are asking: Who’s being displaced?
Republicans Say It’s Time to Prioritize American Students and National Security
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) says foreign students can be economic contributors—but not at the expense of U.S. safety.
“I hope this sends a chilling effect to antisemites, racists, and those engaged in violent activism,” Cruz said. “If they’re here to stir up hate or support terrorism, send them home.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a former college football coach, added that qualified American kids are losing college spots to foreign students.
“We’ve got thousands of smart American students being pushed aside,” he said. “That should never happen in our own country.”
Declining Birth Rates, Fewer College Applicants—Yet Foreign Enrollment Surges
The U.S. is facing a generational shift. Known as the “enrollment cliff,” college applications are dropping as birth rates plummet—down 23% since 2007, according to the CDC.
Yet foreign student enrollment has rebounded fast. Why? Because elite universities are chasing international dollars while American students are left behind.
Pro-Hamas Activism Prompts Visa Cancellations and Arrests
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has canceled more than 300 visas, with some tied to students involved in anti-Israel and pro-Hamas protests. Many of these individuals are now facing deportation under sealed court proceedings.
One high-profile case involves Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and Columbia University protest leader. ICE arrested Khalil in February, and he remains in federal custody.
Another foreign student from Turkey was detained after writing a pro-Palestine op-ed. The student was picked up by plainclothes agents in an unmarked van—raising eyebrows among progressives, but not among voters focused on national security.
Lawsuits from Left-Wing Groups Can’t Shield Foreign Radicals
Some academic groups have filed lawsuits, claiming the Trump administration is “silencing free speech.”
But legal experts note: Foreign nationals do not have a constitutional right to remain in the United States—especially if they support anti-American or extremist ideologies.
“You’re here on a visa,” said one DHS official. “If you use your time in the U.S. to support groups that hate this country, that visa can—and will—be revoked.”
“Self-Deportation” Is Working—And Beijing Is Next on the List
In some cases, foreign students have left the U.S. voluntarily after being confronted with visa violations. The Trump administration refers to this as “self-deporting”—a win for taxpayers and law enforcement alike.
Now the focus is shifting to Chinese nationals studying in sensitive U.S. research programs.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Select Committee on China, recently demanded universities disclose their handling of Chinese nationals in STEM fields with military applications.
“The Chinese Communist Party has weaponized our education system,” Moolenaar said. “We’re funding their military research—right here on American soil.”
New GOP Bills Aim to Shut the Door on Communist Espionage
Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) and Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) have introduced legislation to ban Chinese nationals from studying in the U.S. entirely.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) also raised concerns, especially when students are enrolled in nuclear science or national security studies.
Still, Cornyn noted that foreign students can become allies—if properly vetted and educated about American values. But that assumes universities are willing to vet at all.
The Bottom Line: America First, Always
While liberal professors and media outlets decry these actions as “harsh,” many Americans—especially older voters who remember the Cold War—understand what’s at stake.
President Trump’s bold policies are restoring control over who enters our country and why.
This isn’t about racism. It’s about protecting American students, American values, and American lives.
