New international student enrollment in the US declined this fall, according to Open Doors data from the Institute of International Education.

The number of foreign students starting college for the first time decreased 17% this semester, after President Donald Trump’s administration began its crackdown on foreign student visas. That followed a 7% decline in the 2024-25 school year, as fewer Chinese students came to the US, due in part to geopolitical tensions.

Trump’s attacks on both higher education and immigration this year have caused chaos for universities across the country, leaving many students from abroad either unable or unwilling to attend college in the US. During the summer, the administration ordered a month-long pause in visa interviews, followed by increased vetting and f

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