FAIRFAX, Va. — Colleges and universities across Virginia are bracing for financial and academic fallout after the Trump administration froze international student visa interviews, ramped up social media vetting, and announced plans to revoke visas for some Chinese nationals. The measures, spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have sparked alarm among higher education leaders in the commonwealth.
Virginia institutions enrolled over 21,000 international students in the 2023–24 school year, generating $807.2 million in economic activity, according to the National Association of Foreign Advisors. George Mason University in Fairfax County received the most, with $207.5 million, followed by Virginia Tech, UVA, and VCU.
“These students want to learn from us, and their presence enriches our universities and communities,” said Tim Gibson, president of the Virginia Conference of the American Association of University Professors.
Since Tuesday, U.S. embassies have been instructed to halt new visa interviews. On Wednesday, the administration moved to revoke visas for Chinese students tied to “critical fields” or the Chinese Communist Party, drawing sharp criticism from advocates who say the policy is fueled by paranoia and xenophobia.
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