Chinese students in the United States are increasingly becoming collateral damage in the escalating diplomatic and economic hostilities between the US and China. The Trump administration’s tightened stance on foreign students—combined with the trade war—has created a climate of anxiety, fear, and legal battles for many.

Beijing has already warned its students against pursuing education in the US, citing growing hostility. Reports show several students had their US visas revoked without explanation. A student in Pennsylvania told The Wall Street Journal he was shocked to lose his visa with no justification. “We pay too much money to experience this kind of nightmare,” he lamented, expressing deep regret over his decision to study in America.

In New York, another Chinese student said she now combs through her old social media posts in fear of retaliation. “I never imagined I’d feel unsafe over my online activity—in America,” she said. Her parents have already urged her to return home.

In a rare legal win, Xiaotian Liu, a PhD scholar at Dartmouth, filed a lawsuit after his visa was revoked. The court sided with him, restoring his status and allowing him to continue his research.

This is not new. During Trump’s earlier term, over 1,000 Chinese students lost visas in 2020 alone.

Meanwhile, the trade war rages on. China recently increased tariffs on US goods to 125%, retaliating against America’s 145% levy. Cultural retaliation also surfaced, with China planning to restrict imports of Hollywood films.