Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has introduced legislation that would bar immigrants from China, Iran and North Korea from studying at U.S. colleges, arguing that international students from adversarial nations pose a threat to national security and displace American applicants.
Unveiled Thursday on Fox Business, the Student Visa Integrity Act would restrict student visas from rival countries, cap overall international student enrollment and increase penalties for visa fraud.
It would also require universities to disclose any ties to the Chinese government and enforce strict visa expiration timelines to curb overstays.
"We want to do away with Iran, North Koreans and Chinese nationals getting into this country and learning how to destroy the United States of America and our allies," Tuberville said.
The senator cited a recent graduation ceremony he attended, where he claims "40 Chinese nationals" earned degrees in engineering and cybersecurity. "We are funding our own demise," he said.
More than 1.1 million international students attended U.S. colleges during the 2023-24 academic year, according to the Fox Business Network.
Who is Tommy Tuberville?
Tuberville, a former college football coach turned Republican U.S. senator from Alabama, was elected to the senate in 2020 after coaching stints at Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati.
Known for his conservative "America First" views and close ties to former President Trump, Tuberville made headlines for blocking military promotions in protest of Pentagon abortion policies.
He serves on several key Senate committees and has announced a 2026 run for Alabama governor, focusing on education, immigration and rural development.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Sen. Tuberville pushes student visa ban for China, Iran, North Korea
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