July 17, 2025: This Week in International Student News
- Carrie Circosta
- Jul 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 24
Good morning! 👮♂️ Louisiana police chiefs were running a side hustle charging $5,000 to write fake police reports for visa fraud.
pauses holding coffee cup
Add “corrupt cop visa scams” to the list of headlines I didn’t expect to write about in 2025.
This week, we're covering:
📊 Data reveals the U.S. undercounted international students by 200,000...that's the size of Salt Lake City, Utah
🏠 How one college raised $400K for international students in 3 weeks
🎓 STEM scholarships, including those with upcoming deadlines
⚖️ What that government "Tiger Team" means for international student activists
Let's dive in.
Carrie at International Student Voice ⭐
HEADLINES THIS WEEK FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 📰
📊 Data Glitch Hides 200,000 International Students
A major federal data error understated U.S. international student numbers by over 200,000 students last year. The corrected data reveals a new all-time high of nearly 1.3 million international students in September 2024 - a 6.5% growth rate that's double what experts predicted. (PIE News)
🌍 Nigeria Leads African Student Representation
Nigeria dominates as the top African country sending students to the U.S., with 20,029 students (ranked 7th globally). Ghana follows with 9,394 students, while Kenya rounds out the top three with 4,507 students. The data highlights the growing influence of African students in American higher education. (African Exponent)
⚖️ Iowa Court Protects International Students from Deportation
The federal government is challenging an Iowa court's broad injunction protecting University of Iowa international students from deportation. The case stems from the sudden termination of over 1,500 students' SEVIS status nationwide, with the court ruling that students faced "irreparable harm" without protection. (The Gazette)
💡 How Universities Can Better Support International Students
A new Forbes article outlines key strategies for U.S. higher education leaders to enhance support for international students, focusing on comprehensive services, cultural integration, and academic success programs amid ongoing policy challenges. (Forbes)
ICYMI
International Student Who Broke the Internet with Her Viral Commencement Speech 🎓
Chinese international student Yurong "Luanna" Jiang's Harvard commencement speech about shared humanity went viral for all the wrong reasons, trending on TikTok with millions of views and facing deportation demands from over 20,000 users on X.
Her crime?
Talking about hope, moderation, and not demonizing people you disagree with.
In her powerful new commentary, Jiang reveals what it's really like to be caught in the crossfire of U.S.-China tensions as an international student while making the economic case for why international students make America stronger.
SPOTLIGHT: Macalester College: A Model for Supporting International Students 🌟
When 93 international students at Macalester College in Minnesota faced the impossible choice of potentially not being able to return to the U.S. if they traveled home for summer break, the institution didn't just offer thoughts and prayers—they took action.
The college raised nearly $400,000 in weeks, providing housing, meals, and stipends to students who had lost summer job opportunities. More than 230 alumni responded to President Suzanne Rivera's appeal, while faculty and community members organized everything from baseball outings to art lessons.
Students received meaningful internship opportunities, cultural experiences, and most importantly, the message that their institution truly values them as whole human beings, not just tuition revenue.
I chose to spotlight Macalester College because in a climate where international students often feel like political pawns, this institution demonstrated what genuine support looks like—comprehensive, community-driven, and focused on student wellbeing.
Read the Full Story on The Chronicle of Higher Education
FUNDING YOUR FUTURE: Featured Scholarship Opportunity 💰
The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship is one of the most comprehensive STEM funding opportunities available, offering full tuition coverage, annual stipends, and guaranteed employment with the Department of Defense after graduation.
Important Eligibility Note: This scholarship is only available to citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. Students must pursue STEM degrees, including information technology and computer science.
💰 Additional STEM IT Scholarships
MPOWER Financing STEM Scholarships - Specifically designed for international students pursuing STEM degrees
Information Technology Scholarships - Awards ranging from $500-$5,000 with deadlines through July 2025
434+ STEM Scholarships - Comprehensive database updated for July 2025
IMMIGRATION CORNER 🛂
🔍 DHS Creates "Tiger Team" to Monitor International Student Activists
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has established a specialized task force to investigate international student and scholar activists for potential visa violations.
The "Tiger Team" pulled analysts from counterterrorism and cyberterrorism units to handle the increased workload, using information from the controversial Canary Mission website - an anonymously sourced database that documents critics of Israel - as the basis for their investigations.
This development follows a series of arrests in March targeting visa holders and legal residents involved in pro-Palestinian activism. (Chronicle of Higher Education)
With these heightened scrutiny measures affecting international students who engage in activism, it's more important than ever to understand your rights and responsibilities.
If you're concerned about participating in campus activities or protests, check out our guide.
This resource covers everything from understanding DHS's role to knowing your legal rights and staying safe on social media.
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