U.S. Hit by Record Drop in International Student Arrivals Under Trump

The number of international students entering the U.S. this August plunged 19 percent from last year—the steepest drop on record outside the pandemic—according to new federal arrival data. The slump follows a series of Trump administration policies tightening visa vetting, restricting travel from 19 countries, and threatening deportations for international students accused of pro-Palestinian speech. The data captures both new and returning students but historically tracks closely with fall enrollment trends. A separate federal database confirms the downturn, showing overall growth in international students 23 percent slower than last year—another sign that new enrollments are faltering. The decline is sharpest in Asia, which accounts for more than 70 percent of America’s international stud