Chinese Nationals May Be Barred From Student Visas Under New Proposal

A House Republican is set to introduce a bill that would bar Chinese nationals from obtaining visas to study in the United States.

First-term Representative Riley Moore of West Virginia will introduce the bill, known as the Stop Chinese Communist Prying by Vindicating Intellectual Safeguards in Academia Act, or the Stop CCP VISAs Act, later this week, a spokesperson for Moore told Newsweek.

Why It Matters

Amid increased U.S.-China tensions, some Republicans have accused the Chinese Communist Party of exploiting the student visa program and using universities and academic institutions to engage in espionage, and several universities have ended partnerships with Chinese universities over national security concerns.

However, proposals to bar all Chinese nationals from studying in the U.S. face opposition from advocacy groups that say such policies are rooted in racism and xenophobia. A ban would also mean fewer international students contributing to the U.S. economy and would affect universities that depend on tuition fees paid by Chinese students.

What To Know

The text of the bill, first reported by Fox News, says it would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to “prohibit the admission of Chinese nationals as nonimmigrant students, and for other purposes.”

It adds that an “alien who is a national of the People’s Republic of China may not be issued a visa or otherwise provided status as a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(F), (J), or (M), for the purpose of conducting research or pursuing a course of study.”

Representative Brandon Gill of Texas, another first-term Republican, has said he will co-sponsor the bill. Others expected to co-sponsor the bill include Republican Representatives Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Fox News reported.

Moore has cited an incident in which five Chinese nationals were charged with covering up a visit to a remote military site in Michigan while drills were taking place. The five individuals were students at the University of Michigan at the time and enrolled in a joint program between the university and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

The University of Michigan recently announced that it was ending its partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

“Their story is just one example of an alarming and growing trend of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) using our academic institutions as platforms for espionage,” Moore wrote in an op-ed for Newsweek in February.

He added that a more thorough vetting process would not be enough, as “the United States cannot accurately flag the espionage-related risk factors of student visa applicants because many who enter the United States with pure intentions are later recruited or coerced by the CCP to engage in espionage.”

What People Are Saying

Representative Riley Moore, a Republican from West Virginia, said in a statement to Newsweek: “Every year, we allow nearly 300,000 Chinese nationals to come to the U.S. on student visas. We’ve literally invited the CCP to spy on our military, steal our intellectual property, and threaten national security.”

He added: “Congress needs to end China’s exploitation of our student visa program. It’s time we turn off the spigot and immediately ban all student visas going to Chinese nationals.”

Representative Brandon Gill, a Republican from Texas, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday: “This is great legislation that I am proud to co-sponsor.”

Representative Judy Chu, a Democrat from California and the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, told Newsweek: “We can safeguard our national security, protect U.S. workers and businesses from unfair trade practices, and stand up for human rights without creating a new iron curtain with China. Unilaterally cutting off pathways of study for Chinese students—many of whom come to study here specifically because they are receptive to our democratic values, educational institutions, and economic openness—will make our country less innovative and the world less safe.”

John C. Yang, the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said in a statement to Newsweek: “We strongly reject this move to paint all Chinese students as a threat and caution against racial profiling based on geography and not fact. While national security is of utmost importance to Americans, resorting to racism and xenophobia is never the answer. The overwhelming majority of students and scholars simply come here to learn.”

Yang added: “Past discriminatory policies have destroyed lives and affected our ability to attract and retain talent, which can affect our country’s competitiveness as global leaders in technology and innovation. If enacted, the Stop CCP VISAs Act would have even greater effects as a result of unilaterally blocking all Chinese students from coming to the U.S. and contributing to our economy simply because of their nationality. In fact, student visa applications are declining as Chinese students look to countries like Australia and Canada to study because of racial profiling here. In the long run, isolationism does not work and makes America weaker, not stronger.”

What Happens Next

Moore is set to introduce the legislation on Friday.