House Republicans are taking a stand against Chinese nationals obtaining student visas in the United States. Rep. Riley Moore from West Virginia is spearheading the effort to introduce the Stop Chinese Communist Prying by Vindicating Intellectual Safeguards in Academia Act, also known as the Stop CCP VISAs Act. This legislation aims to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from exploiting American visa programs meant for studying in the U.S.
According to Rep. Moore, nearly 300,000 Chinese nationals come to the U.S. on student visas every year, providing opportunities for the CCP to spy on military activities, steal intellectual property, and pose threats to national security. He highlighted a recent incident where five Chinese nationals, who were former University of Michigan students participating in a joint program with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, were accused of spying on the U.S. military during a training operation with the Taiwanese military.
In response to these concerns, Rep. Moore is calling for a complete ban on student visas for Chinese nationals. He emphasized the urgency of addressing China’s exploitation of the student visa program and urged Congress to take action.
However, this proposed legislation is likely to face opposition from Asian American and progressive groups. Similar attempts to restrict Chinese nationals from studying in the U.S. have been criticized in the past for racial profiling and discriminatory practices. Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) previously condemned Sen. Tom Cotton from Arkansas for suggesting limitations on fields of study or visa options for Chinese students, citing concerns about racial profiling and racism.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
As the debate over Chinese nationals obtaining student visas continues, it is essential to consider the implications of such policies on national security, intellectual property protection, and international relations. The issue raises important questions about balancing academic opportunities with security concerns in an increasingly globalized world.
Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is closely following developments in the House of Representatives regarding this legislation. For more updates on this issue and other political news, follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.
