WASHINGTON – Europe is extending an invitation to scientists eyeing opportunities in the United States, delivering a clear message: come here instead.
As the Trump administration continues to slash research funding and impose restrictions on foreign-born students, U.S. colleges are becoming increasingly concerned that brilliant minds may choose Europe over America.
In early May, prominent leaders from the European Union gathered to announce a bold new initiative—“Choose Europe for Science.” From the esteemed Sorbonne University in France, they unveiled a 500-million euro investment aimed at attracting foreign researchers and students to European campuses.
In a pointed critique of the Trump administration, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, highlighted the stark contrast between Europe’s investment in research and the growing skepticism about the role of science in other global regions. “The investment in fundamental, free, and open research is being questioned. What a colossal miscalculation,” she said, adding that “science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, or political affiliation.”
For years, American colleges and universities have been the top choice for international students. Each year, hundreds of thousands of students flock to the U.S. to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. In the 2023-24 academic year alone, foreign students contributed over $43 billion to the U.S. economy, according to the Association of International Educators (NAFSA).
International students have long played a crucial role in supporting U.S. academic research, budgets, and teaching programs. However, recent changes to immigration and education policies under the Trump administration have created uncertainty at U.S. universities, with many bracing for a potential crisis if fewer foreign students decide to study in America.
In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security threatened to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students in April. This action has sparked fears among other institutions that they could be next.
Suzanne Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools, warned of the far-reaching consequences if such a measure were implemented at Harvard. “The bottom line is students have choices,” Ortega said. “If they opt for other countries that seem more welcoming, those nations will benefit, and the U.S. will suffer.”
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has intensified, particularly since the start of President Trump’s second term. One of the most alarming moves came in March when the Department of Homeland Security quietly removed thousands of foreign students’ records from the federal immigration database. Initially, the reason for the deletions was unclear, but it was later revealed that the records had been cross-referenced with a national criminal database. In some cases, minor violations, such as unpaid parking tickets, led to students’ legal statuses being altered.
Ron Cushing, director of international services at the University of Cincinnati, described the chaos that ensued after the terminations began. “The students I worked with were in shock, and it wasn’t clear what they should do next,” Cushing explained. “The only real option for most of these students was to seek legal counsel.”
As lawsuits piled up, judges across the country issued injunctions, ruling that the Trump administration was likely violating the law. While the Justice Department eventually restored many of the affected students’ immigration records, the incident exposed how far the government was willing to go to exert executive power over student immigration.
The Trump administration has accused international students of supporting groups like Hamas and justified student visa revocations as part of a broader effort to quell unrest on college campuses.
International students play a vital role in U.S. higher education, accounting for roughly 6% of the student population, yet their impact on research, teaching, and campus finances is far greater than their numbers suggest. They are more likely to pay full tuition, and at many institutions, enrolling a single foreign student can generate three times the financial contribution of an in-state student, according to Clay Harmon, executive director of the Association of International Enrollment Management.
Harmon noted, “Many institutions are viewing international enrollment as a solution to address their financial challenges.”
In STEM-focused graduate programs, international students often outnumber domestic students, a trend that allows U.S.-born students to benefit from increased access to advanced degrees. International students also contribute to U.S. campuses in ways that go beyond financial support. They often teach classes, contributing to academic programs that would otherwise be unsustainable.
Kevin Timlin, executive director of international education and services at Southeast Missouri State University, emphasized that foreign students help more than just university budgets. Their presence is integral to the academic vitality of many U.S. institutions.Output in
