On Tuesday, Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, expressed concerns that the U.S. economy and its talent pipeline could be adversely affected if international students choose not to attend American colleges due to the visa policies implemented by former President Donald Trump.
Speaking on Finance Newso’s “Squawk Box,” Khanna highlighted the significance of foreign students, noting figures such as Elon Musk, who began his journey in Silicon Valley as an international student. “They have been embedded in Silicon Valley and the companies that have been created,” Khanna remarked.
Khanna, who represents the heart of Silicon Valley, characterized the educational offerings available to foreign students as one of America’s greatest exports. He pointed out that institutions like Stanford and various state colleges depend on international enrollments to maintain their operations, stressing that these students help subsidize costs for domestic students.
According to the nonpartisan nonprofit NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, international students contributed approximately $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Khanna, often mentioned as a potential candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, has established himself as a strong proponent of policies fostering tech innovation and entrepreneurship. This stance has sometimes placed him at odds with positions held by others in his party.
Additionally, he has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s strategies targeting international students as part of a broader crackdown on immigration and progressive ideals at leading universities across the nation.
In a significant move last month, the Department of Homeland Security sought to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, escalating attempts to enforce adherence to the Trump administration’s ideological stance. A federal judge has temporarily halted this ban.
However, experts warn that the DHS initiative has created a chilling effect for foreign students considering studying in the United States in the upcoming fall semester, irrespective of ongoing legal challenges.
Khanna has previously condemned the restrictions affecting Harvard and urged tech industry leaders to take a stand against such policies. In a recent post on X, he called out prominent figures like David Sacks and Marc Andreessen, questioning their willingness to oppose the ban on international students.
“There is not a single tech leader who can defend this on the merits,” Khanna stated.
