Trump Shifts Tone For Foreign Students Citing National Security Concerns

The Trump administration announced Thursday it will be tightening student visa rules after Trump previously said Chinese students were “good” for the country.

The new rule issues a fixed admission period for F, J, and I visa holders. Under these regulations, student and exchange visas would last no longer than four years, and I visas for foreign journalists would last no longer than 240 days, unless the holder is a Chinese national, in which case the limit would be 90 days, according to Reuters.

“For nearly half a century, the outdated ‘duration of status’ system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a press release.

The final rule is set to publish in the Federal Register in a few days and will take effect 60 days after that, according to the press release.

The Department of Homeland Security referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to the press release when asked for comment.

“Since 1978, foreign students have been admitted into the U.S. for an unspecified period, enabling thousands to become ‘forever students’ by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid departure,” according to the press release.

Trump’s new decision is a change from his previous rhetoric where he stated that allowing Chinese students to study in the United States is the “right thing to do,” in a 2025 interview with Daily Caller White House Correspondent Reagan Reese.

Trump told Reese that it was “very insulting” to tell another country that their students cannot study in the U.S. The president added he was “honored’ to have the communist country’s students come stateside.

“By implementing clear, finite limits of these visas, the United States is reclaiming its ability to properly screen, vet, and monitor individuals within our borders. This final rule ensures that foreign students remain focused on their primary purpose: completing their studies and returning home,” Mullin continued in his statement.

Visa holders that need additional time to complete an academic program will have to apply for an Extension of Stay through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The rule also puts strict limitations on academic changes, according to the press release.

Current nonimmigrant visa holders in the United States will transfer to the new system automatically making their maximum stay four years once the effective date is in place, the press release states.