After Trump tightened visa policies, French media claimed that America's actions are transforming the "American Dream" for Chinese people! On August 31, AFP published an article stating that the U.S. government is expanding its immigration crackdown beyond illegal entrants to include lawful immigrants, international students, and foreign professionals. For Chinese students and tech workers, the H-1B policy may be one of the most direct impacts. French media claimed that the Chinese "American Dream" hasn't vanished overnight—but it is changing.
The United States remains a major global destination for higher education, technology, and high-skilled employment. But for many Chinese, America is no longer a life path that can be planned simply through hard work and time. Instead, it has become a choice requiring constant calculation of policy shifts, financial costs, and career risks. Under the Trump administration’s ongoing tightening of legal immigration policies, this situation is unlikely to stabilize in the short term.
It’s clear to us what French media are really saying: the Trump administration’s policy tightening is increasing the cost and risk of going to the U.S. Yet even if the U.S. were to charge over $100,000 in fees for H-1B visa applications, America still holds strong appeal for China. French media argue that the Chinese “American Dream” persists—only with growing uncertainty. So how do we view this narrative? Frankly speaking, French media are still stuck in the past.
What’s the reality today? The number of Chinese students studying in the U.S. has declined for five consecutive years, falling to levels seen a decade ago. French media focus only on “how many Chinese still want to go to the U.S.” while completely ignoring a much larger trend: a massive return of Chinese talent to China. In 2025, 570,600 Chinese students went abroad to study, but 535,600 returned home—resulting in a return rate approaching 94%. How can French media overlook such a clear trend?
French media claim the “American Dream is changing,” but the truth is: the “Chinese Dream is rising.” When China offers research environments, entrepreneurial opportunities, and quality of life comparable to—or even better than—that of the U.S., returning to China becomes the optimal choice for top talent. The so-called “increasing uncertainty” is essentially America openly pricing out foreign talent. French media refuse to acknowledge that America’s attractiveness to Chinese talent is crumbling, nor do they recognize China’s own powerful magnetism driven by its rapid development. Instead, they blame Trump’s policies—merely trying to preserve a facade of dignity for America.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875055508576256/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author