HOUGHTON — On Thursday U.S. State Department released a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announcing that “new visa policies put America first, not China.”

Rubio said he will work to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party of studying in critical fields.” The press release did not clarify what those ‘critical fields’ are. Rubio added the U.S. will “revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.”

With this and similar statements from the Trump administration causing concern among international students, scholars are looking to universities such as Michigan Tech for information and guidance.

“Michgian Tech continues to evaluate directives and guidance from federal agencies in this rapidly evolving landscape,” a spokesperson for the university told the Daily Mining Gazette. “As an institution that receives federal funding, Michigan Tech must comply with all U.S. regulations governing international education.”

“When changes occur, we work closely with affected individuals on a case-by-case basis to provide guidance, explore available options, and ensure they are supported throughout the process.” The university did not specify whether or not any students had had their visas revoked.

One in ten Michigan Tech students are international students, with about 1 in 4 of those students coming from China. This makes the Chinese students one of the biggest international demographics on Tech’s campus.

However, MTU’s Chinese population has been decreasing since 2014, as tensions continue to rise between the United States and China.

Michigan Tech looks to support its international students. The International Programs and Services department offers help with immigration, cultural understanding, and more. The Chinese Students and Scholars Association at Michigan Tech (CSSA) also exists to foster communication and friendship among Chinese students and scholars at MTU, along with promoting Chinese culture and organizing events to engage students from non-Chinese backgrounds. The CSSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the face of President Trump’s new policies, though, this support may not be enough. The current administration has ramped up the vetting process for student visas, especially those coming from China.

This involves in-depth interviews and rigorous social media monitoring for possible connections to the Chinese Communist Party, as mentioned above. It has not yet been revealed what counts as a ‘connection’, or where the current president plans on drawing the line.