Chicago – March 12, 2025
House Republicans are working on a new law that would stop Chinese nationals from getting student visas in the United States. Representative Riley Moore from West Virginia says China is using the visa program to spy on the U.S.
Moore plans to introduce the Stop CCP VISAs Act on Friday. The bill is still gathering support, but some Republican lawmakers, including Andy Ogles (Tennessee), Scott Perry (Pennsylvania), and Brandon Gill (Texas), are expected to back it.
Moore pointed to a recent case involving five former University of Michigan students from China. The students, part of a program with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, were accused of spying on a U.S. military base. A National Guard officer confronted them in August 2023, and they now face charges in federal court.
Some groups, like Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), have spoken out against similar proposals in the past. They criticized Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas when he suggested banning Chinese students from studying in the U.S.
Moore says the bill is needed to protect the country, but opponents argue it unfairly targets Chinese students. The debate over the bill is expected to continue.
