Washington – The United States issued nearly one-fifth fewer student visas in August following a policy tightening under President Donald Trump, with India witnessing a dramatic 44.5% drop, its steepest in recent years. The decline has not only displaced India as the top source of international students in the US, overtaken by China, but also exposed Washington’s growing distrust of New Delhi amid rising concerns over extremism, disinformation, and political interference.
According to data released by the International Trade Administration on Monday, the US issued 313,138 student visas in August, typically the start month for most American universities, marking a 19.1% decrease from the same period in 2024.
Growing Mistrust of India
The sharp decline in Indian student visas appears to be more than a bureaucratic outcome. Analysts interpret it as a reflection of Washington’s deepening skepticism toward India, a country once celebrated as a key “strategic ally” in Asia. Indian students, once seen as cultural ambassadors of India’s “soft power,” are increasingly being viewed through a lens of suspicion.
The shift follows growing alarm among US policymakers and academic institutions over the rise of Hindutva-linked extremism, online disinformation campaigns, and evidence of political influence operations tied to Indian diaspora groups. Officials have reportedly raised concerns about the use of student networks for propaganda dissemination and intelligence collection, further eroding confidence in India’s global conduct.
China Rebounds as India Falters
Adding to the irony, even as Trump’s administration tightens immigration rules broadly, Chinese students are being welcomed back in large numbers. The White House recently announced plans to admit 600,000 new Chinese students.
The message, experts say, is unmistakable: Washington’s faith in India as a reliable partner is fading, while strategic engagement with Beijing, though cautious, is being recalibrated for mutual academic and economic benefit.
Politics Behind the Numbers
Beyond the data lies a deeper political narrative. US officials have reportedly grown wary of India’s authoritarian turn, intolerance toward minorities, and the weaponization of diaspora communities for political ends. The U.S. State Department’s enhanced social media vetting, especially targeting accounts involved in hate speech and disinformation, has led to the rejection or revocation of thousands of Indian student visa applications.
Sources within US institutions cite concerns over students affiliated with right-wing groups promoting Hindutva ideology and misinformation related to international conflicts, including the Palestine issue.
For years, Indian students have been central to New Delhi’s narrative of global influence, contributing to innovation, academia, and technology in the United States. But the recent developments mark a serious blow to that image. India’s educational and diplomatic credibility is increasingly questioned, with Washington now reportedly listing India among nations of “national security concern.”
