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Tuberville’s Student Visa Integrity Act Faces Criticism Over Proposal to Bar Chinese, Iranian and North Korean Students

Official analysis finds international student enrollment bolsters U.S. STEM output, a benefit critics warn the bill would jeopardize.

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Overview

  • The Student Visa Integrity Act, unveiled July 31, would bar nationals of China, Iran, and North Korea from U.S. universities, cap overall international enrollment, and impose penalties on institutions that fail to enforce the limits.
  • A U.S. Department of Education study found that international undergraduates do not displace American students and that every 10 additional international bachelor’s degrees correlate with 15 more STEM degrees for U.S. undergraduates.
  • International students contribute over $50 billion in tuition and related spending annually and underpin vital research collaborations at U.S. colleges and universities.
  • Fanta Aw of NAFSA and Yale’s Yangyang Cheng characterize the nationality-based restrictions as xenophobic and warn they threaten academic freedom and open inquiry.
  • With the bill pending, it faces bipartisan opposition over potential trade deficits in educational services and risks to U.S. competitiveness in the global talent market.