Only 4% of respondents said they felt “very” or “extremely” safe in the U.S., while about 90% described themselves as “moderately,” “very,” or “extremely fearful” about their student visa status, according to the survey, conducted by Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit organization that combats discrimination against Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
The findings were based on responses from 87 international students studying at 36 U.S. institutions across multiple academic levels.
According to the survey report, “immigration policy changes have deep impacts on various aspects of their lives.”
Many students said they experienced “a decreased sense of belonging (88%), scaling back their political engagement (88%), and/or changing their social media presence (86%).”
Researchers said this retreat from public and civic life risks undermining the openness universities are meant to foster.
The survey was conducted after months of heightened hostility toward international students under the Trump administration.
The State Department has revoked more than 8,000 student visas so far this year, according to reports earlier this month, while a temporary suspension of new visa interviews earlier this year disrupted plans for students hoping to begin their studies in the fall.
Fears were further amplified by high-profile arrests and detentions of international students involved in pro-Palestinian speech, actions that were later ruled unlawful by a federal judge. Several respondents said these cases increased concerns about arbitrary detention or deportation.
Expanded government screening of social media activity has also had a chilling effect. Nearly nine in 10 students reported reducing their political engagement, and most said they had altered their online presence to avoid drawing attention.
Chinese students, the second-largest group of international students in the U.S., reported particularly high levels of anxiety, citing fears of being monitored or treated as security risks. Although never formalized as policy, remarks made in May 2025 by Secretary of State Marco Rubio about “aggressively revoking” Chinese student visas intensified those concerns.
At a recent higher-education industry conference, university leaders warned against “over-compliance” with shifting federal directives and urged stronger coordination to help campuses respond to rapidly changing immigration policies.
Students also expressed concern about narrowing pathways from education to employment, pointing to alarm over the administration’s proposal to sharply raise fees for new H-1B visa petitions. Although officials later clarified that the increase would not apply to students changing status within the U.S., uncertainty persists, particularly around anticipated changes to Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs.
More than 60% of respondents said recent policies had disrupted their travel plans, and nearly one-third reported experiencing harassment or unfair treatment off campus. The survey coincided with a 17% decline in new international enrollments this semester. Among institutions reporting drops, 96% cited visa application concerns and 68% pointed to travel restrictions, according to data from the Institute of International Education, which surveyed 825 U.S. higher-education institutions.
While most students said their universities offered basic support services, significant gaps remain. Mental health counseling and visa information were widely available, but fewer than half of respondents said they received guidance on completing their academic programs, and only 38% reported access to legal assistance, which the report described as essential.
About 1.2 million international students studied in the U.S. during the 2024–2025 academic year, according to estimates from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that international students contributed approximately $55 billion to the U.S. economy in 2024.
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