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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
How Trump's war on international students hurts the US more than it helps
Why targeting international students may backfire on the US economy and trade. President Donald Trump's administration has launched a sweeping effort to curb the presence of international students in the United States, targeting institutions like Harvard University and pausing the issuance of key student visas. While framed as a national security move, this aggressive stance could backfire by damaging the US economy, weakening higher education, and pushing future innovators away from American shores. Recently, the Trump administration confirmed it would end all remaining federal grants to Harvard. More critically, it announced a 30-day window to block Harvard's access to new international students. Interviews for incoming foreign students and exchange visa holders are also on hold while the administration weighs enhanced social media vetting. A federal judge temporarily blocked the enforcement of this order on May 29, 2025, as reported by MSNBC News. Universities and innovation at risk There are more than 1.1 million international students enrolled in US colleges and universities, representing just under 6% of the total 19.1 million higher education population. According to the Open Doors 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange, over half of these students pursue STEM fields—25% study math and computer science, and nearly 20% are in engineering. This talent pipeline is crucial. Many skilled immigrants begin their US journey as students. Elon Musk studied at the University of Pennsylvania before obtaining an H-1B visa. Similarly, South African-born Patrick Soon-Shiong completed surgical training at UCLA and went on to invent Abraxane, a major cancer drug. In a 2017 interview, Soon-Shiong told MSNBC News, 'We still have the best universities, and I think it's crazy that (foreigners) come here and we train them as masters and PhDs and then we kick them out. That's ridiculous.' A blow to economic growth and trade Canceling student visas contradicts the administration's economic objectives. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, international students contribute $50.2 billion annually to the US economy—classified as an export. Removing them not only undermines innovation but worsens the trade deficit the administration claims to fight. Pierre Azoulay, an economist cited by MSNBC News, found that immigrants are 80% more likely to start businesses. Their companies generate 50% more jobs and pay about 1% higher wages than firms started by native-born Americans. Historically, a 1% increase in immigrant population has correlated with a 15% rise in patents per capita, fueling long-term economic growth. National security or national self-sabotage? The administration insists it is safeguarding national security by scrutinizing students' political affiliations and online activity. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the US will increase visa vetting for Chinese students tied to the Communist Party, as reported by MSNBC News. However, experts warn that overreach could alienate talented students and bolster rival nations. As MSNBC News noted, this policy threatens to 'lock their smartest students in a communist dictatorship' while weakening US innovation during an ongoing trade war. Trump's immigration crackdown may serve short-term political goals, but its long-term cost to the US could be far greater. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Economic analyst sounds the alarm over politician's 'perplexing' national emergency declaration: 'Why do so many people ignore the facts?'
In response to President Trump's declaration of a national energy emergency, economic analyst Steve Rattner shared that the hard facts contradict the story of the country's energy landscape. In a shortened TikTok clip of Steve Rattner's Morning Joe show with MSNBC News (@msnbc), Rattner described how odd it was that Trump had declared a national energy emergency. "It's really perplexing as to why he … called for a national energy emergency given that we are actually producing oil and gas at record amounts," Rattner explained as he pointed to the graph behind him. According to the national energy emergency declaration — posted on the official White House website — the threat to the American people is "high energy prices," which is "exacerbated by our Nation's diminished capacity to insulate itself from hostile foreign actors." The declaration identifies the existence of hostile state and non-state foreign actors that have "targeted our domestic energy infrastructure, weaponized our reliance on foreign energy, and abused their ability to cause dramatic swings within international commodity markets." Essentially, President Trump is seeking energy independence to make the country more immune to foreign energy price volatility. He plans to expand domestic oil and gas exploration ("drill, baby, drill") to support these goals. With the power of this emergency resolution, the administration can skirt environmental and legal regulations, including the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, to encourage more drilling for oil and gas. However, as Rattner explained, the country is already producing a record high of oil and gas. On top of that, the United States is experiencing significant and steady increases in renewable energy production, with solar energy and battery storage capacities in 2024 easily surpassing 2023 numbers. The country is not experiencing a shortage of energy production. Quite the contrary — the U.S. has become an annual net total energy exporter since 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That means that the country exports more energy than we import, which contradicts the basis of President Trump's national energy emergency and the need to drill for more oil and gas. Do you think the federal government should give us tax breaks to improve our homes? Definitely Only for certain upgrades Let each state decide instead No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "The Inflation Reduction Act, limits on tailpipe emissions, the emphasis on renewable energy had put us on an extraordinary path down," on energy emission targets, Rattner said. Trump's national energy emergency plans will have the opposite effect. "Instead of helping the world's climate problem, we go back to hurting it." "Facts matter. Why do so many people ignore the facts?" one commenter asked. Another commenter joked: "He declared emergency in advance of the emergency he's going to be creating." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
