International students belong on U.S. campuses, say most Americans, even as they also favor restrictions aimed at certain countries.
Nearly 80% of Americans, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans, think international students are a benefit, even as the Trump Administration’s visa changes, travel bans and immigration crackdown have made some students reluctant to travel, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in early September.
Some of the numbers show less hospitality. Half of the survey’s respondents supported limits on Chinese students, while about four in 10 would cap students from India, Nigeria and South Korea. Another 40% say a student’s visa could be canceled if they criticize U.S. foreign policy.
Republicans were more likely to endorse these limits and the cancellation of visas. The survey also noted that, while international students account for about 6% of enrollment, many Americans think the number is higher.
Small, private colleges with “a specialized focus” or affiliated with a Christian church are the most at-risk financially if international students stay away from the U.S., a separate report from the Brookings Institution found.
International students in limbo?
With the new academic year just underway, widespread media reports have shown prospective international students hesitant or unable to travel. NPR reported 750 fewer international students than expected at the University at Buffalo this school year, with the biggest drops coming in graduate-level STEM programs.
Arizona State University, along with universities in Texas, Missouri, Illinois and Massachusetts, also saw notable declines, NPR reported.
Bans and restrictions on travelers from 19 countries have also blocked international students, according to The Associated Press.
Even students who showed up for class are experiencing some anxiety in the current political environment, though few travelers have actually been turned away, Boston’s WBUR reported.
It is unclear how the Trump administration is vetting students when reviewing visas. “We don’t know what they’re looking for. We don’t know how hard they’re looking,” immigration attorney Dan Berger told WBUR. “We don’t know what kind of AI tools might be used to search social media.”
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