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Jacksonville college students alongside a local attorney have voiced their worries regarding potential discrimination and its consequences for universities if student visas are revoked under the Trump administration.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Some Chinese students studying in the U.S. may soon lose their visas.
The Trump administration is looking to revoke visas for students with ties to the Chinese communist party — and those studying in critical fields.
This latest action by the federal government might result in the revocation of numerous student visas, eliciting concerns about discrimination and its effects on educational institutions.
University of North Florida senior Riley Liebertz was taken aback upon learning of the possibility that Chinese college students could have their visas revoked.
“I mean it’s just insane. I have no words really,” Liebertz said.
This Wednesday’s announcement comes from Secretary of State Marco Rubio who says the administration will target students with connections to the Chinese communist party or studying in critical fields, as the government expands social media vetting of applicants.
President Donald Trump gave his response on the matter during a Thursday press briefing
“We want to know where those students come from. Are they troublemakers? What countries do they come from? And we’re not going to if somebody is coming from a certain country and they’re 100% fine, which I hope most of them are, but many of them won’t be,” said President Trump.
“It’s very disheartening to see that we’re closing the door on people who do want to come here and make our country a better place,” said Maria Aguila, a Filipino immigration attorney and the daughter of immigrants who came here on work visas
“We will no longer be able to attract the top talent and bringing the best and brightest to the United states,” she said.
More than 270,000 Chinese students are studying in the U.S.
According to Aguila, many already are living in limbo.
“I think it’s sad for students, the way they feel. They don’t feel welcome here anymore, but yet they love the United Sates and they really do want to stay. They want to contribute and they want to pay taxes. A good number of them really don’t want to leave.”
The Trump administration has also ordered U.S. embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas.
First Coast News has reached out to our local colleges and universities and are waiting to hear back on any potential impacts.
