The Current Crisis

On May 27th, the Trump administration paused processing of all new student visa applications. On May 28th, Marco Rubio announced the U.S. State Department will aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students. The stated reason is protecting U.S. national security.

National security is a legitimate concern. There have been cases where foreign students were involved in IP espionage and even terrorism. But looking at reported cases, such numbers are so small compared to the whole foreign student population. I believe most international students are not threats to U.S. national security. They help make U.S. stronger.

Here I share my personal story from international student to citizen.

My Journey to America

I came to the U.S. in 2001 as a foreign student from China. During the first few months, an American classmate asked me how I felt about the U.S. Being young and naive, I told him that except for the many cars and very nice people, I didn’t feel much difference from living and studying in China. At that time, I did not fully undertand what it means for living in the U.S. I didn’t have a clear plan about my future either. I vaguely believed I would go back to China eventually.

Then I graduated with my Ph.D. in 2005. Thanks to the OPT program, I was able to find a job and start my career in the U.S. I had kids and bought a house. Along the way, my wife and I got green cards. We were still not sure whether China or the U.S. would be our final home. But I gradually learned more about the culture, values, and how the system works in the U.S. I started loving the country.

Building a Life and Contributing

During my years in the U.S., I got something done in my work. I published academic papers and my Ph.D. dissertation. I participated in and led several SBIR projects for Federal agencies. I filed patents in computer networking, cybersecurity, and machine learning. I contributed book chapters. I created a new course for the Information Security Institute at Johns Hopkins University. I led several R&D projects for a major consulting company and a large bank. Of course, I paid my taxes.

I list these contributions not to brag. There are a lot of people who have done much more than I did. My point is this: beginning as a foreigner, I have worked hard like everyone else in this land, and I been contributing to U.S. society and economy for the past 20+ years. I did my part and I am proud of it.

A Return to China and a Stark Awakening

In 2018, I got an offer from Tencent, the Chinese company that owns WeChat. I had been away from China and my parents and sister’s family for a long time. So I took the offer and moved back to China. I stayed in China for 4 years, covering the COVID-19 pandemic period.

During the Covid lockdown in China, I witnessed something shocking. I saw how the government took extreme actions without limit. Among many absurd things, I witnessed that many people were not allowed to return to their own homes and communities after treatment. This happened even when they had proof from hospitals that they were negative and totally healthy. Such things would be unimaginable in the U.S., where people’s rights are seriously protected and no one can prevent you from returning to your own home.

Those observations made me realize something important. American people are lucky. Their properties, rights, and freedom are protected by the constitution and laws. All these protections originate from the fundamental democratic values that the U.S. was built upon.

Choosing America for Good

So in 2022, I decided to move back to the U.S. This time, I will stay for good. Looking back, if I had not come to the U.S. and lived here, I would not have the same understanding of the U.S. and the American values. I might have agreed, as many people still do, to the idea that it is necessary to take away people’s freedom and rights for the “greater good”.

Compared to when I first came to the U.S. about 20 years ago, now I am clear. The U.S. is the country I choose to be my home. I am ready to defend its values and principles.

A Common Story Among International Students

My personal journey is typical for many international students like me. I know so many other foreign students, from China and other countries, who have similar experiences. As we integrate into American society, we learn, adapt, and contribute in myriad ways. We strengthen its foundation. It is this potential for growth and mutual exchange that underscores the importance of welcoming foreign students.
No matter eventually they stay or go back, they will always have a special connection with the U.S. and its values, and help increase the influence of the U.S. in the world.

This is why the recent policies surrounding visas and national security deserve careful consideration. We must ensure that we continue to embrace those who come with genuine aspirations. We must foster environments where they can thrive and ultimately fortify the U.S. as a leading nation.

Fear-Based Policies Are Short-Sighted

Pausing visa applications for all foreign students is a panic out of fear. Imposing a far-reaching ban on an entire country such as China is equally misguided. It is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Lao Tzu said, “He who is governed by fear will always be controlled by others.” Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” There should be better ways to filter real threats while welcoming most foreign students with good intentions.

The extremely aggressive policies taken by the current administration are short-sighted. They will cause permanent damage to U.S. competitiveness in the long run. America needs the best talents from all over the world to stay at the forefront of innovation and technology, and maintian its global influence. Foreign students are critical fresh blood to American innovation, economy, and leadership. Pushing them away would be a big mistake.