Revoked

The fall semester is up in the air for Chinese international students.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Rubio announced that the Trump administration would begin to "aggressively revoke” Chinese student visas, stop new student-visa interviews until it can vet applicants’ social media accounts, and revise its criteria for future Chinese and Hong Kongese applicants. 

Rubio said the move targets “those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields” (think: STEM) in an effort to protect “national security” and “public safety.” 

Chinese officials called the move “fully unjustified” and “discriminatory,” and urged Washington to “safeguard the rights and interests” of all students. Higher-ed experts warn that the loss of Chinese students—who make up one quarter (277,000) of all international students in the U.S. and typically pay full tuition—will be a significant hit to universities’ income.

ABOVE ALL, LOVE
While you probably have little say in who gets student visas, you play a much more significant role in Christ's mission to demonstrate his love to the world. As you seek justice, remember compassion for your neighbors—whether international students, longtime citizens, or people who passionately disagree with you on immigration policy.

“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 
1 John 4:19-20 (CSB) (read full passage)