WANA (Aug 02) – A U.S. Senator has introduced a bill that, if passed, would ban student visas for individuals from Iran, China, and North Korea seeking to study at American universities.

 

Senator Tommy Tuberville, who proposed the legislation, claimed that hostile nations may exploit student visas to engage in activities against U.S. interests.

 

The proposed bill, titled the “Student Visa Integrity Restoration Act,” aims to restrict student visas for rival nations, tighten regulations on international student enrollment, and impose stricter penalties for visa fraud.

 

Additionally, the bill would require universities to disclose any ties with the Chinese government and enforce strict timelines on visa expiration to prevent unlawful stays.

 

“We want to stop citizens of Iran, North Korea, and China from entering this country and learning how to destroy America and our allies,” Tuberville said.

 

He referred to a recent graduation ceremony he attended, claiming that 40 Chinese nationals earned degrees in engineering and cybersecurity. “We are funding our own destruction,” he added.

 

According to official statistics, over 1.1 million international students were enrolled in U.S. universities during the 2023–2024 academic year.

 

Meanwhile, reports suggest that President Donald Trump’s team is considering new measures to scrutinize all foreign students applying to study in the U.S., including mandatory reviews of their social media activity — a significant expansion from previous vetting procedures.

 

To prepare for the implementation of such measures, U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide have reportedly been instructed to temporarily suspend scheduling new student visa interviews.

 

In recent months, the Trump administration has also ramped up pressure on major academic institutions such as Harvard University, accusing them of excessive liberalism and promoting antisemitism. Combined with broader anti-immigration crackdowns, these efforts have placed many international students at risk of deportation or visa denial.

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Donald Trump. Social media/ WANA News Agency