Bill proposes stricter rules for US student visas
Bill seeks to bar adversarial nations’ students from US education
Washington has once again become the stage for a heated debate over immigration and national security, this time centred on foreign students studying in the United States. A Republican congressman has introduced new legislation aimed at tightening oversight of the US student visa program, arguing that loopholes and weak enforcement have allowed fraud, visa overstays and security risks to continue unchecked.
The proposed law, titled the Student Visa Integrity Act, was introduced this week by Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas. Speaking on Wednesday, Gill said the bill is designed to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and curb what he described as long-standing abuses within the student visa system. According to him, the issue is no longer just about immigration compliance, but about safeguarding national interests.
“Studying in the United States is a privilege, not a right,” Gill said in a statement. He claimed that while thousands of genuine students come to America every year to learn and contribute, the program has also been exploited by “fraudsters and bad actors.” Gill argued that stricter rules are necessary to protect national security, enforce immigration laws more effectively and ensure the student visa program truly serves US interests.
Gill’s office outlined several key measures in the bill. One major proposal is the introduction of firm end dates for student visa programs, a move aimed at reducing the number of overstays. The legislation would also expand in-person interview requirements for visa applicants, reversing years of relaxed procedures that critics say made the system vulnerable to misuse.
In addition, the bill would restrict how easily students can transfer between academic programs, a practice that lawmakers claim has sometimes been used to prolong stays without legitimate academic reasons. Schools and officials found guilty of visa fraud would face tougher penalties, including potential prison sentences or removal from federal student visa programs.
One of the most controversial provisions of the legislation is its proposal to bar nationals from countries defined as adversarial from studying in the United States. While the bill does not publicly list all such countries, it reflects growing concerns within conservative circles about foreign influence on US campuses. Colleges and universities would also be required to disclose any financial or institutional ties to the Chinese government, increasing transparency around international partnerships.
A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate by Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. Tuberville said he was alarmed by the number of students from countries such as China and Iran enrolled at US universities, including institutions in his own state. for allowing students from such nations to attend elite US institutions.
The House bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Brian Nehls and Mike Collins and has gained support from conservative advocacy groups, including the Immigration Accountability Project and Heritage Action.
Foreign students in the US are monitored through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, which was established after security failures highlighted weaknesses in paper-based tracking systems. Supporters of the bill argue that SEVIS has seen little modernisation in over two decades, even as foreign student enrollment has doubled — rising from about 750,000 in 2012 to more than 1.5 million today.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, around 50,000 student and exchange visitor visa holders overstayed their authorised programs in fiscal year 2023. Backers of the Student Visa Integrity Act say these figures underscore the urgent need for tighter controls, while critics warn the proposals could discourage genuine students and damage America’s reputation as a global education hub.