It'll ‘be OK,' Trump says about student visas. Officials are skeptical.

Politico

02-06-2025

Presented by National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Driving The Day
VISA TROUBLES: President Donald Trump's message to Chinese students who are worried about getting their visas revoked: It is all 'going to be OK.'
— A series of moves from the administration last week has created a great deal of uncertainty for many international students. The State Department paused interviews for student visas, and Secretary Marco Rubio announced he'd revoke Chinese student visas, including for those working in 'critical fields' or with Communist Party ties.
— 'They're going to be OK. It's going to work out fine,' Trump told reporters Friday night when asked what his message is to Chinese students. 'We just want to check out the individual students. We have to and that's true with all colleges.'
— However, a State Department official familiar with consular issues, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, told POLITICO last week embassies hadn't received official instructions on how to implement Rubio's plan, which also includes revising visa criteria to increase scrutiny of future applicants from China and Hong Kong.
— 'It's going to be a massive headache for us,' said one State Department official involved in the discussions about how to implement the directives. The person was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive internal processes.
A broad pause: Those who represent the higher education community say the State Department's actions will deter international students from wanting to attend school in the U.S. The American Council on Education and 30-plus other organizations wrote a letter to Secretary Rubio laying out their concerns about the pause in student visa interviews.
— 'As we have previously communicated, we stand ready to work with federal officials to address security concerns regarding any international students,' Ted Mitchell, president of ACE, wrote in a letter Friday on behalf of the groups. 'However, we are concerned that imposing a broad pause on all student — visas would send a message that our nation no longer welcomes talented students and scholars from other countries.'
— The pause comes during peak visa season after students have already accepted admissions offers and put down deposits for the upcoming fall semester. Mitchell writes that the hiatus on interviews during this critical time will weaken colleges' ability to attract the 'best and brightest minds.'
A swipe at Harvard: During his remarks on Friday, Trump also criticized Harvard, which is in a legal battle with administration over its ability to enroll international students. He said the school has not provided the government with enough information. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the university to submit records on what she said were 'illegal' and 'violent' activities from international students. Harvard has called the administration's action to revoke its ability to enroll international students 'unlawful.'
— 'We want people that can love our country and take care of our country and cherish our country and for some reason Harvard doesn't want to give us a list,' Trump said in reference to Noem's request.
— Noem told Fox News on Sunday that Harvard 'perpetuates Chinese Communist Party priorities,' adding that Harvard supported students 'feeding information back to our enemy, which is Communist China.'
— 'These ties to China are deeply alarming. It's not just Harvard,' she said. 'There are other universities and we're going though every single one of them.'
IT'S MONDAY, JUNE 2. WELCOME TO WEEKLY EDUCATION. I'm your host, Rebecca Carballo. Let's talk: [e-mail]. The team: Bianca Quilantan at [e-mail], Juan Perez Jr. at [e-mail] and Mackenzie Wilkes at [e-mail].
ICYMI: The Conversation kicked off with Dr. Oz
In the premiere episode of The Conversation, Dasha Burns sat down with Dr. Mehmet Oz — now leading the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — for a candid talk on drug prices, potential Medicaid cuts and why he's getting early morning calls from President Donald Trump. Plus, POLITICO's Jonathan Martin dished on the Ohio governor's race (featuring Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel), and Kyle Cheney unpacked Trump's legal battle over 'Liberation Day' tariffs.
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PK-12
'HARMFUL STEREOTYPES': Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Massapequa High School to announce that her department's investigation found the New York State Board of Regents was in violation of Title VI.
— The department launched an investigation in April into the board for threatening to withhold money from a local school district because of its chief mascot.
Key Context: More than two years ago, New York state required school districts to eliminate mascots that appear to appropriate Native American culture or risk losing state funding.
— 'The Trump Administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes,' said McMahon. 'Rather than focus on learning outcomes, the New York Department of Education and Board of Regents has set its sights on erasing Massapequa's history – while turning a blind eye to other districts' mascots that are derived from or connected to other racial or ethnic groups.'
— However, many Native American tribes and associations representing Indigenous people find such mascots to be offensive. The Association on American Indian Affairs condemns the use of Native sports team names, mascots, symbols and gestures.
— 'Using these harmful stereotypes perpetuates a long history of uninformed depictions of Native Peoples and violence, as well as undermines the educational learning environment,' the group has said.
AGENCY REVIEW
FIRST IN WEEKLY ED: Dozens of groups representing student borrowers, veterans, union members and others, sent a letter to the Education Department asking for the agency to expand the number of negotiators for a student loan rulemaking process.
— The department announced in April that it would use the regulatory process to make changes to various student loan programs. The groups are asking to include financial aid administrators, student loan borrowers in repayment, civil rights organizations and others as negotiators.
— Today is the deadline to submit nominations for negotiators. The Department anticipates holding one session between June 30 and July 2 before issuing proposed and final rules later this year.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
REFORMING: Amber Northern will serve as a senior adviser to the secretary tasked with reforming the Institute of Education Sciences, the Education Department said Friday.
— IES, a nonpartisan research arm of the department that studies special education and student learning outcomes, among other topics, was one of the first targets of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
— Northern will work with Matthew Soldner, acting director at IES, institute staff, and external experts and stakeholders.
— 'It is such an honor to be asked to examine IES with fresh eyes and consider how it might be more responsive to the students, parents, and educators that it serves,' Northern said. 'I know that the education community values the role that the federal government plays in Research & Development and I look forward to working with them on this rebuild.'
— Northern is on leave from her role as the senior vice president of research at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a right-leaning, education policy think tank. She oversaw the organization's research portfolio and staff.
— Northern holds a Ph.D. in education policy and evaluation from the University of Virginia. She has served in an advisory capacity for various charter schools, federal assessment entities, and state education departments.
Syllabus
— M.I.T. class president barred from graduation ceremony after pro-Palestinian speech. The New York Times.
— Why does Trump keep saying Harvard teaches remedial math? The Wall Street Journal.
— Michigan Senate Democrats won't consider a trans athlete sports ban. Will Trump target the state? Chalkbeat Detroit.