Payam Javan: On May 28, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the revocation of visas for Chinese students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or those studying in critical fields, as part of a broader effort to address national security risks. The State Department, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, will aggressively revoke these visas and enhance scrutiny of future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. This move follows concerns raised by the FBI and other officials about the CCP’s use of students to collect intellectual property and monitor dissident activities in the U.S., with some Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) branches reportedly directed by Chinese consulates.

The decision aligns with the proposed “Stop CCP VISAs Act of 2025,” introduced by House Republicans, including Rep. Riley Moore, which aims to ban Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas due to espionage and intellectual property theft concerns. Recent cases, such as the 2020 indictment of a People’s Liberation Army lieutenant and the 2024 charges against five Chinese students at the University of Michigan, underscore these risks. Additionally, the State Department has paused student visa interviews globally to strengthen vetting processes, including social media screenings, signaling a broader overhaul of visa policies to protect U.S. interests.