logo
ENع
#

Latest news with #MiriamFeldblum

Where Student Visa Holders Come From, What They Study and Where They Work
Where Student Visa Holders Come From, What They Study and Where They Work

Newsweek

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Newsweek

Where Student Visa Holders Come From, What They Study and Where They Work

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. More than 1.5 million foreign students were enrolled in schools in the United States in 2024, rising 5 percent over the prior year, according to a new report released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week. The "SEVIS by the Numbers Report" comes amid increased scrutiny of the F-1, M-1 and J-1 visas that are used to allow temporary immigrants to access college courses, vocational training and exchange programs in the U.S. In its annual report, ICE also laid out which schools were the top users of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The Trump administration has sought to limit SEVP for institutions it sees as not complying with current policies, such as around antisemitism. "Having the data, knowing what's happening, is certainly part of the analysis for understanding and explaining the contributions of international students and understanding the patterns of enrollment of post-graduation work experience," Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, told Newsweek. "This is something we would hope continues." How Many Foreign Students Were in the U.S. In 2024? There were 1,582,808 students on F-1 and M-1 visas last year, up 5.3 percent from 2023, with all four regions of the country seeing a rise in enrollment. The increase did slow in 2024 compared to between 2022 and 2023, however. The majority of student visa holders come from India (422,335) and China (329,541). The concentration of F-1 student visa holders – typically those working on traditional degrees at accredited colleges and universities – are concentrated in the states with some of the top U.S. schools. California leads the list with 821 SEVP-registered schools. New York came in second, with 480. Others on the list were Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan. Which Colleges Welcome the Most Foreign Students? Over the past four months, universities that have come under increasing pressure from the Trump administration to make changes to their practices are high up on the list of institutions with large numbers of international student visa holders. New York University and Columbia University each have around 25,000 F-1 students currently matriculating, as does Northeastern in Boston. Many others had between 10,000 and 20,000. Notably absent in the top F-1 schools is Harvard, which the Trump administration has focused its attention on in recent weeks, seeking to strip its ability to enroll international students. The Ivy League university falls just outside the top 20 list, hosting 10,292 F-1 visa holders in 2024. What Are They Studying? These students are studying a variety of subjects, but the standout major was Computer Science, with second language learning, computer and information sciences, and business administration and management following close behind. ICE's report also covers M-1 visas, which are aimed at vocational training. The data shows a big difference in the 431 vocational schools and institutions actively taking in foreign students. Delta Aeronautics, American Aviation Flight Academy and Airbus American Customer Services were among the employers enrolling international students for training, while several Christian schools also led the list of M-1 visa enrollers. Who Is Sponsoring J-1 Visa Holders? As for the J-1 visa, which covers a variety of exchange programs managed by the State Department, there were 298,858 such visa holders in 2024. That number was up 0.7 percent over 2023. The J-1 program includes au pairs, camp counselors, interns and teacher training, as well as visiting professors, researchers and medics. SEVP data showed the top 25 program sponsors, which highlight the variety of J-1 holders. Notably, in third place on the list, was the State Department itself, sponsoring some 14,431 J-1 visa holders. Where Are Foreign Students Working? Student visa holders are allowed — and are often required — to work during their studies and afterwards. In 2024, 194,554 students were able to work through Optional Practical Training (OPT), up 21 percent on the year before, with a further 95,384 getting work training through STEM OPT. Overall, 381,140 foreign students were able to gain work authorization, finding jobs with some of the largest blue-chip employers in the country, including Amazon, Tesla, Goldman Sachs and Walmart. Some colleges and universities also welcomed student visa holders as employees under the program. The chart below covers those working under OPT, excluding STEM and Curricular practical training (CPT) programs. Amid pauses and changes to student visa applications, Feldblum told Newsweek that it was crucial that international students were still able to come to the U.S., otherwise the domestic economy could lose out on an estimated $44 billion in activity. "We have close to 400,000 international students participating in some form of training that directly benefits American employers, industry, research across the country," she said. "Beyond the big names, we're talking about workplaces, employers, across all these states, the local contributions that international students bring. "This is, again, beyond thinking about the $44 billion, but thinking about the actual work, talent, skills that could be lost if we do not ensure that international students want to come here. Our premier destination role is not assured, it is fragile." ICE said it would continue to review visas and institutions for any "potential violations" and will refer any national security concerns to field offices for investigation.

Tensions rise on Pennsylvania campuses as Trump targets international students
Tensions rise on Pennsylvania campuses as Trump targets international students

Miami Herald

time30-05-2025

  • Politics
  • Miami Herald

Tensions rise on Pennsylvania campuses as Trump targets international students

President Donald Trump's administration has launched a multifront effort to reduce the number of international students studying at American colleges, leaving university leaders reeling and sending shock waves through their campuses. In just the last week, the administration sought to bar international students from Harvard, paused student visa interviews, and promised to 'aggressively' scrutinize Chinese students over whether they'll be permitted to study here. The steady drumbeat comes as many new undergraduate and graduate students are trying to secure their visas for the fall semester. 'One of these actions creates a chilling effect,' said Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, whose membership of nearly 600 college leaders includes those from Rowan, Rutgers, Bryn Mawr, Penn, Haverford, and Swarthmore. 'The confluence of all of these actions and situations really causes more general chaos.' Local campuses are hearing from panicked international students. 'Every one of these things has been piling up to cause the international students to have second thoughts about coming to the United States,' said one high-level Philadelphia college administrator, who asked not to be named for fear his campus would be targeted by the Trump administration. Students, he said, are asking: ''Can I still come? Will I still be able to apply for a visa?' And our current guidance is, 'We know what is in the press and that's all we know, so just hang on.'' A student from the Middle East enrolled at Penn's law school said his visa is good for several more years, but the constant targeting of international students has affected him. He panics when he gets an email from Penn's international student office, he said, not knowing what message might come next. 'I constantly feel threatened,' said the student, who requested anonymity because he feared being targeted. 'I'm always anxious.' Philly colleges seek to reassure students Temple University president John Fry, in a community message Thursday, said the school is 'working to identify students who do not have their visas yet and are exploring potential solutions. 'This could include utilizing our Rome and Japan campuses as well as online courses.' Temple's enrollment, which stands at about 30,000, included 1,982 international students this spring semester. The University of Pennsylvania, meanwhile, assured international students in an email Wednesday that it would 'work flexibly with students who experience arrival delays due to visa processing.' Administrators also emphasized that students who already have visa appointments should keep them. 'At this time, we understand that this pause does not affect visa appointments that have already been scheduled,' they wrote. Current students, many of whom have visas that extend through their expected graduations, also are not impacted by the pause. University officials from Penn's global initiatives office last week called the Trump administration's attempts to ban international students from Harvard - part of a larger campaign to get the university to comply with its demands - 'deeply troubling.' Harvard has sued over the action, and a U.S. District Court judge Thursday issued a preliminary injunction. A potential hit to finances and enrollment For Pennsylvania campuses, the loss of international students - many of whom pay full tuition and room and board - could be particularly problematic, especially at schools struggling to meet enrollment targets in a competitive sector. With more than 50,500 international students, the state has the sixth-highest number in the country, according to the Institute of International Education. New Jersey ranks 17th, with 23,225 international students. At some campuses, international students make up a significant portion of the student body. At Penn, about a quarter of its total enrollment, or 6,903 students, were international in fall 2024, while at Swarthmore, it's 15%. At Rutgers, New Jersey's flagship university with 67,956 students, about 7,400 or 10.7% are international. Wendy Cadge, president of Bryn Mawr College, where about 13% of undergraduates are international, underscored their importance 'to the academic and cultural life of the college and, by extension, to the Philadelphia region and its economy. 'If we curtail the ability of international students to study in the U.S., we diminish the breadth of perspectives and potential for innovation that have made American higher education a beacon for the world.' International students contribute $2.1 billion in expenditures to Pennsylvania's economy annually and $939 million to New Jersey's economy, according to the institute. But to the Trump administration, some of them pose threats and take seats away from American students. 'We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools. They can't get in because we have foreign students there,' Trump said Wednesday. Targeting Chinese students Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the administration would revoke visas of Chinese students who have connections to the Chinese Communist Party or who are studying in 'critical fields,' though he didn't specify which ones. Bethany Li, executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, a New York-based civil rights group, said Trump was 'fueling a new red scare.' Banning Chinese students is not only unjust but does nothing to advance U.S. national security, she said. It does, however, put 'the security and safety of Asian Americans at risk by stoking fear and hatred,' she said. China supplies the second-largest group of international students to the United States after India. Of the more than 1.1 million international students in the United States in 2023-24, nearly a quarter came from China. In Pennsylvania, China is the No. 1 home country for international students, accounting for about a third of international students, according to the international institute. Earlier in the week, the administration announced it was pausing interviews for visas so it could more carefully scrutinize applicants' social media posts. It's not clear how long the pause might last. But the timing is awful. About 70% of student visas issued last year came during the summer months, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Even before this week, colleges already were reporting fewer accepted international students were enrolling than in years past, the alliance's Feldblum said. Now, it's likely to get worse; one campus reported two-thirds of their incoming international students hadn't secured visa interviews yet, she said. For another, it was 60%. She estimated that more than 100,000 students likely are impacted by the visa pause. And IDP, one of the world's oldest international student recruitment organizations, reported that over the last six months, search demand for U.S. colleges, once at the top of the list, has fallen to second place behind the United Kingdom and is trending downward. The data tracks weekly search activity across the organization's 30 student websites for the four top study destinations and provides 'near real-time insight into prospective student interest,' the organization said. 'Clearly the state department needs to reverse its decision as swiftly as possible to avoid further disruption,' Feldblum said. 'We need to figure out how to address the damage and continue to assure prospective students that they are wanted and welcome here.' The Penn student who said he feels threatened even though his visa is good for several years said a friend, also from the Middle East, had been accepted to a graduate program at Harvard but had not obtained her visa and is now planning to defer. 'She's like, 'it's too late to figure out housing and all of that,'' said the student, who asked not to be identified for fear of being targeted. He said he knows several students whose visas were revoked by the Trump administration earlier this year during a wider effort to target those involved in pro-Palestinian protests, but also ensnaring many others for reasons unknown. The students, who did not attend Penn, he said, returned to their countries. In the face of legal challenges, the federal government subsequently dropped that effort to revoke visas. And some of his potentially new classmates at Penn who had not obtained their visas yet also expressed concern, he said, leaving him to wonder how many will show up in the fall. Lorena Grundy, a Penn practice assistant professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering, said she has talked to international students who are afraid to go home for fear they won't be able to return and others afraid to go to a conference in Canada for the same reason. 'I tell them I really value them,' said Grundy, who noted she taught students from every continent except Antarctica last semester. 'I really care about them and I will do whatever I can to help them continue to study here.' She said her classrooms are enhanced by international students. 'I learned a lot from them,' she said. 'The American students learned a lot from them. And they learned a lot from each other.' A Temple University international student, who also requested anonymity, said she has her visa and generally is not worried, given that she follows the rules. 'I'm just hoping that the government is working in a way that [is] keeping in mind the people in its country and respecting and considering everybody who is immigrating from their home country, risking every little that they have, to build a life here for the betterment of this country and their home country,' she said. ---------- -Staff writer Jeff Gammage contributed to this article. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.

Nearly 150 Students Have Had Visas Revoked and Could Face Deportation
Nearly 150 Students Have Had Visas Revoked and Could Face Deportation

New York Times

time07-04-2025

  • Politics
  • New York Times

Nearly 150 Students Have Had Visas Revoked and Could Face Deportation

At least 147 international students were abruptly stripped of their ability to stay in the United States in recent days, according to universities and media reports, sowing fear among students and confusion at schools scrambling to help students facing detention and possible deportation. The moves targeted students at a wide range of universities, from private institutions like Harvard and Stanford to public ones like the University of Texas at Austin and Minnesota State University-Mankato. The University of California had dozens of cases reported across its campuses. Several immigration lawyers told The New York Times that they began receiving frantic emails and calls late last week from students who had been notified by the State Department or their universities that their visas or statuses had been terminated without clear justifications. Criminal convictions have always put students at risk of losing their status, but participation in political actions and committing traffic infractions have rarely been cited as justifications. In some cases, immigration officers have arrested international students related to their involvement in pro-Palestinian causes. In other cases, students had committed legal infractions, such as driving over the speed limit or while intoxicated, often years ago, several immigration lawyers said in interviews. But lawyers said the Trump administration had often given no reason at all, leaving them to guess why students were targeted. 'This upends all usual practice by the government,' said Miriam Feldblum, chief executive of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, which represents more than 570 public and private colleges and universities across the country. 'They are terminating students' statuses in a way they have never done before and with virtually no explanation and little recourse to correct or appeal by either the institution or the students.' Late last month, Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, ordered diplomats to scour the social media postings of some visa applicants to keep away from the country those suspected of criticizing the United States and Israel. The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. The recent moves add more anxiety to an already precarious environment for international students and scholars in the United States. Advocates for international education worry that such moves will chill the ability of U.S. schools to attract foreign students. Last month, Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate student who was involved in pro-Palestinian activism during campus protests last year, was arrested at his apartment and sent to Louisiana for possible deportation, despite being a permanent resident. Shortly after, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University student from Turkey, was detained by masked agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while she was on the way to meet friends. Ms. Ozturk, who had written a pro-Palestinian opinion essay, was also taken to Louisiana. The moves aimed at international students fit with the Trump administration's broader policy agenda of reducing the number of immigrants, both legal and undocumented, and of forcing universities to crack down on what the president says is rampant antisemitism on campuses. The United States issued more than 400,000 visas to students in 2024. Some of the students targeted recently had committed offenses like speeding or driving while intoxicated, the lawyers said. They said that such offenses did not ordinarily rise to deportation. Without a visa an international student becomes undocumented, and must leave the United States or risk being detained and placed in deportation proceedings. Several attorneys said that they had clients who had opted to leave the country out of fear that they could be arrested by agents from ICE, the Homeland Security agency charged with carrying out Mr. Trump's pledge of mass deportations. Some of the affected students are graduate students who have doctoral dissertations that they are supposed to defend next month. Others are undergraduates. Still others have completed their studies and have been working in the United States, under a special program that allows recent international graduates to remain in the country for up to three years if employed. 'This is totally unprecedented,' said Fuji Whittenburg, an immigration lawyer in Calabasas, Calif., who has been practicing law for 20 years. 'I have never seen anything close to this.' She added, 'A brush with law enforcement that didn't necessarily result in an arrest or a conviction is all it took.' Ms. Whittenburg said that one of her clients was an Indian national who got a DUI when he was studying in the United States more than a decade ago. When he applied for a second student visa more recently, he disclosed the charge to U.S. consular authorities in his home country. They ultimately granted him the visa to pursue further studies in the United States. Harvard advised international students last week during a webinar to reconsider traveling abroad, according to The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper. The staff also warned students that pro-Palestinian speech could be risky. During the webinar, Jason Corral, an attorney, said there seemed to be a change from President Trump's first term, according to The Crimson. 'The difference is we have seen situations where it seems as though people's visas are being revoked simply based on their speech or protests,' he said. A letter sent to Michael Drake, the president of the University of California, and others on Monday by the Council of University of California Faculty Association, said the university should help students who had been targeted, arguing it had a 'moral obligation' to protect students and scholars' legal rights. The letter, which was co-signed by the University Council AFT, a teaching faculty and librarians union, called on the university to allow deported or detained students to continue their programs remotely, to continue providing stipends, salaries and fellowships and to help students in the courts. Several students have sued the government to challenge their terminations, and lawsuits are expected to pile up. Stacy Tolchin, an immigration lawyer in Pasadena, Calif., filed two suits in federal court in Los Angeles on Saturday, and said that she would be filing more this week. In one case, the American Civil Liberties Union is representing a Chinese doctoral student at Dartmouth College who has been studying computer science. According to a complaint filed on April 4, the student, Xiaotian Liu, had not committed any crimes or participated in any protests. The college told the student in an email that this was 'not standard or normal procedure,' according to the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in New Hampshire. 'Xiaotian's dream of finishing his doctoral program and obtaining a Ph.D. at Dartmouth College is now in severe jeopardy,' the lawsuit said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store