[Source / Observer Network, Zhang Jingjuan] The escalation of the US government's visa cancellation and deportation actions targeting foreign students and researchers, as well as the increasingly tense Sino-US trade situation, have caused Chinese students studying in the United States or planning to study there to worry.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post on April 17, Chinese students are reconsidering their plans to study in the US, with some parents hoping their children will consider the UK as an alternative option.

The report stated that in recent months, the visas of hundreds of international students from dozens of American universities have been arbitrarily revoked. In individual cases, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted surprise raids on universities and arrested international students. Under Trump's policies to crack down on illegal immigrants, international students may face the risk of deportation.

Last week (April 9), the Ministry of Education of China issued its first study abroad warning for 2025, reminding students who plan to study in certain states in the US to assess safety risks and enhance awareness of prevention.

One study abroad consultant surnamed Yu Lin (translated name) said that since Trump returned to the White House, many Chinese parents who originally planned to send their children abroad for education have clearly felt panic. Some have changed their attitudes towards studying in the US, leading to a surge in the number of students choosing to study in the UK.

She mentioned that parents applying for overseas study "clearly" indicated that they should shift their children's preparation from Advanced Placement (AP) courses to International Baccalaureate (IB) or A-Level courses. AP courses and exams are typically used to apply to US universities, while IB and A-Level can also be used to apply to countries including the UK in Europe.

It was reported that some American universities and law firms have begun taking action against Trump's actions targeting international students.

On April 15 local time, in New York, people held demonstrations to protest against the arrest of Palestinian student Muhsin Mahdawi at the University of Chicago. IC Photo

A female Chinese student studying visual arts said that administrators at the University of Chicago had written to students, asking them to communicate with the school promptly if their status or visa was canceled.

In response to the US government's threat to freeze federal funding and demand reforms from several universities, Harvard University chose to "resist". On the 14th, Harvard refused the Trump administration's demands for significant reforms to its management structure, hiring, and admission policies. Subsequently, the university's total federal funds of approximately $2.26 billion were frozen. On the 15th, Trump further threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status and demanded an apology from the school.

Last week, four Chinese international students from the University of California, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and other schools filed a lawsuit against the US government, accusing the government of illegally canceling international students' visas en masse and demanding the restoration of the visas and statuses of affected students.

The law firm handling the case stated in a statement: "The majority of international students whose visa statuses were recently canceled by the US government are from mainland China, which is clearly discriminatory behavior. If the US government can operate so arbitrarily, then no international student is safe."

For many years, Chinese international students have been the largest group of foreign students in the US. However, since the 2019-2020 academic year, the number of Chinese students studying in the US has been continuously decreasing.

According to annual survey data released by the Institute of International Education (IIE, headquartered in New York), which is sponsored by the US Department of State, during the 2023-2024 academic year, there were 331,602 Indian students studying in the US, while the number of Chinese students was 277,398. Compared to the previous academic year, Indian students increased by 23%, while Chinese students decreased by 4%. This marks the first time in 15 years that India has surpassed China to become the largest source country for international students in the US.

The report pointed out that for some Chinese families planning to send their children to the US, it is now too late to change plans, and they are preparing to meet the challenges.

Jason from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, said that his daughter was admitted to an American university this April, and it is now too late to transfer her to a university in the UK or Australia. He mentioned that since his daughter started attending an international school in 2017, they have been preparing to send her to the US for college.

He must save more money for his daughter because he expects living costs in the US to rise. He is also uncertain whether some majors will impose restrictions on international students or whether his daughter will face difficulties staying in the US in the future. "We haven't thought about that much right now. Who knows what Trump will do in two years or four years?"

On March 20, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a regular press conference that Chinese students in the US account for about one-quarter of all foreign students in the US. Educational cooperation not only expands communication channels for students from both countries but also enhances understanding between the two peoples, contributing to the prosperity of the US economy and technological development, which serves the interests of both sides. China urges the US to stop generalizing national security concerns and genuinely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students, and not take discriminatory or restrictive measures against Chinese students.

This article is an exclusive piece by the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494312549500994085/

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