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For decades, America has been one of the top most destinations for Indian students pursuing higher education. Come August, our airports are usually crowded with dreamy-eyed boys and girls heading for American universities, in time for the Fall season admissions; their eyes set on greener pastures in the fabled Land of Opportunities. 

 

The dreams are turning sour now

 

There is a steep fall in the number of students from India arriving in the United States for higher education. As per the immigration data, the drop is more than 46 per cent compared to last year. Compared to July 2024, the number of international students arriving in July this year fell by 46.4 per cent from India and 25.6 per cent from China, the top two contributors to the pool of international students. The Indian student arrivals fell from 24,298 in July last year to 13,027 in the same month this year. Similarly, student arrivals from China, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam and Philippines have also shown a significant decline.

 

The reasons for the reverse trend are not far to seek: toxic anti-immigrant rhetoric, whimsical policies of the Trump Administration targeting international students, and new visa and work restrictions have created a sense of anxiety and unpredictability among Indians.

 

This data serves as the latest alarming evidence that America’s pre-eminence is in jeopardy.

 

Fear of the unknown

 

No one knows what’s going to come next as Trump 2.0 has virtually declared a war on universities, while his hawkish advisors regularly spew venom at immigrant workers and students.

 

The suspension of visa interviews and threats to end Optional Practical Training (OPT) are certainly among the factors weighing on the minds of Indian students, who are dropping their plans to travel to the US even after securing admissions in the universities of their choice. Overall, the number of international students arriving on visas declined by 28.5 per cent in July this year compared to the same period last year.

 

Experts have rightly warned that the unwelcoming rhetoric, restrictive policies, and visa issuance uncertainties are having an undeniably negative effect on international students’ perception of America as a desirable destination to study, conduct research, or start a business.

 

Indispensable to the ecosystem

 

It must be pointed out that international students, particularly those from India, are the lifeline of American universities because of their contributions in terms of fees and also research work.

 

In the US, there are an estimated 2.75 lakh Indian-origin students, accounting for 25 per cent of total foreign students and bringing in $9 billion per year in terms of fees and expenses.

 

Several research studies indicate that international students are vital to many universities and a key source of talent for many American companies. Without immigrants, international students, and the children of immigrants, the undergraduate student population in America would be almost 5 million students smaller in 2037 than in 2022, or about two-thirds of its current size, while the graduate student population would be at least 1.1 million students smaller, or only about 60 per cent of its current size, according to a study by the National Foundation for American Policy.

 

Trump’s war on universities

 

America’s image of being the dream destination for higher learning is taking a severe beating due to the authoritarian policies of the Trump administration, which is seeking complete control over elite institutions that have assiduously built a global reputation over decades. The outrageous diktats are not only endangering the autonomy of American universities but also harming the prospects of a large number of international students, including those from India, enrolled in these globally ranked institutions.

 

It must be pointed out that Indians are among the most successful and influential ethnic groups in America, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth. Still, there are suffocating stereotypes that Indians need to grapple with.

In May this year, the decision to halt student visa appointments to facilitate enhanced social media vetting of international applicants constituted a new low in the ongoing anti-immigrant rhetoric.

 

Trump’s quixotic drive to clean up campuses has triggered a wave of panic among students preparing to apply for American universities. They must realise that such a hammer-like approach towards legal migrants will ultimately hurt US interests. The move came in the backdrop of an extensive crackdown on some of America's elite universities, including Harvard.

 

It must be pointed out that these Ivy League and other sought-after universities rely on foreign students for a significant chunk of their funding, as international scholars often pay higher tuition fees.

 

Traditionally, Indian applicants constitute the largest chunk of international students seeking admission to US universities.

 

In the academic year 2023–2024, a record 3.31 lakh Indian students pursued higher education in the US, making India the top sender of international students. Indian students accounted for approximately 29% of the total international student population in the US during this period.

 

Visa rejections

 

However, there is a disturbing trend of rising visa rejections for student applicants. The overall F-1 (student category) visa rejection rate for all international students reached 41 per cent in the 2023–24 fiscal year, the highest in a decade. For Indians, there was a 38 per cent drop in student visas issued between January and September 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year.

 

As part of a broader crackdown, the Trump Administration has frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for universities and moved to deport students while revoking thousands of visas for others. However, many of these actions have been blocked by the courts. Universities have accused the Trump administration of trying to infringe on free speech. Critics say the new policy on social media vetting represents a further violation of rights.

 

The State Department has revoked visas and ordered international students to leave the country for minor infractions without providing an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

 

The Trump administration has launched investigations against 50 universities and banned the entry of Harvard students as part of its battle with the prestigious school. In a controversial settlement with Columbia University, Trump officials compelled the school to “examine its business model and take steps to decrease financial dependence on international student enrollment.”

 

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