Story perspectives

Visa Policy Changes Threaten International Student Enrollment

11/11/2025

Summary

Story summary

Under U.S. President Donald Trump, changes to visa policy have reduced international student enrollment across universities.
University of Massachusetts Boston shows a 17% drop, while University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University face challenges retaining H-1B visa holders due to a $100,000 application fee.
The fee could hinder attracting skilled international talent and threaten healthcare and technology sectors, while students push back through activism.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, established strict national origins quotas, limiting immigration from non-Northern European countries to just 2% of the 1890 census figures. This legislation shaped U.S. immigration policy until its repeal in 1965. Today, similar restrictions have contributed to a 17% decline in international student enrollment at the University of Massachusetts Boston, impacting sectors reliant on skilled labor.

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Story summary

Under U.S. President Donald Trump, changes to visa policy have reduced international student enrollment across universities.
University of Massachusetts Boston shows a 17% drop, while University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University face challenges retaining H-1B visa holders due to a $100,000 application fee.
The fee could hinder attracting skilled international talent and threaten healthcare and technology sectors, while students push back through activism.

1 / 2