In early April 2025, the Trump administration terminated immigration status of thousands of international students listed in the government's database, meaning they no longer have legal permission from the country. Some students are self-appointed rather than facing deportation.

The Department of Homeland Security recently announced that it will reverse the termination after courts across the country ruled that they have no merits.

These moves are due to the White House's attempt to enhance scrutiny and screening for all foreign nationals.

The State Council announced plans to use artificial intelligence to review social media accounts for international students in March.

As an administrator and scholar specializing in international higher education, I know that international students in the United States have long been subject to high levels of scrutiny, screening and monitoring.

Inserting additional bureaucracy into the current process could make the United States a poorer learning destination. I believe this will ultimately hinder the Trump administration’s ability to acquire “America First” priorities related to the economy, science and technology, and national security.

American International Students

The United States has long been a global leader in attracting international students. But with competition among other countries such as Germany and South Korea, these students are increasing, and strategies to attract international education have been developed.

According to the International Institute of Education, the U.S. has 16% of students studying outside its home country, down from 22% in 2014 and 28% in 2001. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 54% of the more than 1 million international students come from two countries, namely China and India.

Most international students pursue graduate degrees in the field of STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And, according to the National Science Foundation, international students make up a large proportion of enrollment in master’s and doctoral degrees.

How to filter international students

International students in the United States have undergone rigorous screening and ongoing monitoring. These measures include:

• Review the students' school. Before they apply for a visa, international students must be admitted to a Department of Homeland Security authorized school to recruit student visas.

• Reviewed in the embassy. As part of the visa application process, international students are subject to national security comments conducted by various intelligence and law enforcement agencies. In some cases, for example, other screenings occur when the U.S. consular official in their home country decides that more information is required to determine visa eligibility from an external source. This is done through a process called management processing.

• Review upon arrival. When they arrived in the U.S., international students were screened again by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. If the officer cannot verify any information, the student is sent to a secondary inspection, which is a safe interview area where the student waits as the officer completes other assessments. The students then either were admitted to the United States or were forced to leave the country.

• In the United States, students must register full-time, earn good grades and notify their school within 10 days if they are allowed to enter the country, and notify their school after substantial changes in their circumstances.

Examples include changes to their address, academic major, or financial sponsor. School officials must report this information to the student and exchange visitor program, part of the U.S. immigration and customs law enforcement.

Students participating in the interim, post-study training program must continue to comply with reporting requirements. Some STEM graduates and their employers should comply with other requirements. They include certification of training programs, annual assessments and on-site visits.

Recent research shows that most international students prefer to study in the United States. But as other countries propose more friendly visa policies, such as more flexible post-research job opportunities and lower visa costs, they are willing to change their preferences.

Given the level of screening and monitoring that has been imposed on international students in the United States, it is unclear how other measures can add value.

Crucial to the United States' first agenda

President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda aims to develop the U.S. economy.

It also intends to maintain the U.S. leadership in science and technology and to enhance national security.

Trump administration officials stressed the importance of recruiting top global talents. Trump said international students who graduate from American universities should receive a green card for their degree.

During the 2023-2024 school year, international students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy through tuition and living expenses, which supported approximately 378,175 U.S. jobs.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, their contributions will not end after graduation. Many continue to launch successful startups at a rate of eight to nine times higher than their domestic counterparts. In fact, 25% of billion-dollar companies in the United States are founded by a former international student.

These companies include Eventbrite, Grammarly, Moderna, Openai, Robinhood and SpaceX.

International students can also help the United States maintain global leadership in STEM.

45% of STEM workers in the United States have a Ph.D.

A 2024 report warned that the United States has failed to develop domestic STEM talent at all levels of the education system. It is estimated that only 3.2% of U.S. high school graduates enter the STEM workforce.

Furthermore, the country's ability to attract and retain international STEM talent is declining due to immigration restrictions and increased global competition.

Finally, international students are essential to establishing global networks and promoting soft power diplomacy. The United States has graduated more world leaders than any other country can prove this.

Further limiting the ability of international students to study in the United States will eventually redirect talent to other countries, allies and opponents.