Trump And Miller Compel Colleges Not To Enroll International Students

Source: Forbes

Trump And Miller Compel Colleges Not To Enroll International Students

ByStuart Anderson, Senior Contributor. Stuart Anderson writes about immigration, business and globalization.
Aug 03, 2025 at 09:13am EDT


Students are seen on the campus of Columbia University on April 14, 2025, in New York City. The Trump administration is using rules, policies and agreements to discourage U.S. universities from enrolling international students. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)Less
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The Trump administration is using rules, policies and formal agreements to compel and discourage U.S. universities from enrolling international students. A controversial immigration clause in the administration's agreement with Columbia University represents the latest move to decrease international student enrollment. Settlements with other schools could soon follow. Despite what economists and educators view as the benefits of international students, Trump officials, led by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, appear determined to reduce the number of international students who enter and remain in the United States to work.

A Controversial Immigration Provision In The Agreement With Columbia University

On July 23, 2025, Trump officials and Columbia University signed an agreement after the administration withheld over $400 million in federal research funds. The Trump administration accused the school of not sufficiently combating antisemitism on campus. Under the agreement, Columbia will pay $200 million to the U.S. Treasury and an additional $21 million into a fund associated with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle claims. A Resolution Monitor will "monitor Columbia's compliance" with those and other provisions. Columbia's leadership decided that future and current funding, more than $1 billion, would remain at risk without a settlement.

The agreement includes a controversial provision that commits Columbia University to decreasing international student enrollment. The measure has received little attention. On page nine, the agreement states, "Columbia will examine its business model and take steps to decrease financial dependence on international student enrollment."

The measure is extraordinary, given that international students typically pay higher tuition than domestic students. Admitting more international students would likely improve the school's finances.

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Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2025/08/03/trump-and-miller-compel-colleges-not-to-enroll-international-students/

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Reposted by Treasonous Numbers Hat
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Wow. Had not realized that Columbia’s settlement with Trump admin included a commitment to decrease international student enrollment. In what way does this help “combat antisemitism,” which is supposedly the administration’s objective?
www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T14:50:07.482Z

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Catherine Rampell
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Wow. Had not realized that Columbia's settlement with Trump admin included a commitment to decrease international student enrollment. In what way does this help "combat antisemitism," which is supposedly the administration's objective?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2025/08/03/trump-and-miller-compel-colleges-not-to-enroll-international-students/

Trump And Miller Compel Colleges Not To Enroll International Students
Trump officials are using rules, policies and agreements to compel and discourage U.S. universities from enrolling international students.
www.forbes.com
August 3, 2025 at 10:50 AM
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Also, how does this help Trump’s other objectives, such as reducing trade deficits? Someone should tell the president that selling higher education to international students is one of our most successful exports. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T15:21:49.640Z

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Catherine Rampell
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Also, how does this help Trump's other objectives, such as reducing trade deficits? Someone should tell the president that selling higher education to international students is one of our most successful exports.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/04/15/trump-higher-education-colleges-trade-war/

August 3, 2025 at 11:21 AM
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Or how about journalists stop repeating his lies and giving him the benefit of the doubt instead of talking about how his objectives are clearly to promote racism and replace democracy with authoritarianism?

Quit hedging and just say it. The republicans are *actively* killing American Democracy.

— David Marx (@digthatdata.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T15:29:43.803Z

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David Marx
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Or how about journalists stop repeating his lies and giving him the benefit of the doubt instead of talking about how his objectives are clearly to promote racism and replace democracy with authoritarianism?

Quit hedging and just say it. The republicans are *actively* killing American Democracy.
August 3, 2025 at 11:29 AM
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