Dear Focus Reader,

This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to "aggressively revoke" visas for Chinese students. The directive targets those with links to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in sensitive technological fields, but offered few specifics on how those determinations would be made.

The policy, unveiled Wednesday, sparked immediate unease across U.S. campuses, where over 270,000 Chinese nationals are currently enrolled. Institutions have requested clarity, while international student offices brace for a wave of uncertainty.

"This feels like a new version of the Chinese Exclusion Act," said a graduate student at Johns Hopkins. "For the first time in years, I'm thinking about leaving."

Analysts warn that the proposed crackdown could sweep broadly through China's student population, given the pervasiveness of Party affiliation in academic life. "Depending on how they enforce this, it could catch up probably every Chinese student interested in coming to the U.S.," said Rosie Levine of the U.S.-China Education Trust.

The announcement follows threats last week against Harvard's ability to host international students, part of what observers describe as a broader turn against educational exchange in the name of national security.

Learn more on China-U.S. relations by catching up on our latest Focus content, including articles covering Hong Kong's role in the Sino-U.S. relationship, international students in the U.S., and more.