Trump student visa crackdown: U.S. States with the highest proportion of international students
In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s vendetta against Harvard University, where the Republican-led administration appears committed to undermining the financial stability and global standing of the oldest U.S. university after Harvard pushed back on government demands for vast policy changes, Harvard remains under attack:
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration plans to terminate the federal government’s remaining contracts with Harvard University, according to a letter sent to federal agencies on Tuesday.
The letter, from the U.S. General Services Administration, directs all federal agencies to review and potentially terminate or reallocate their contracts with Harvard, which an official valued at about $100 million. ~ Reuters
Now we’re also learning that the current administration is not stopping at Harvard and has announced a halt to the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students wanting to study in the U.S., while the State Department plans to expand the social media vetting process. In light of this, U.S. immigration law experts at Shoreline Immigration examined which states attract the highest proportions of immigrant students to their colleges and universities.
Note:
- Florida narrowly misses the top spot with 19.2% of the college population born abroad.
- There are 1,020,000 students enrolled in higher education in Florida, 196,000 of which are first-generation immigrant students.
- Minnesota dominates the national rankings with 20.1% of the college population born abroad.
Minnesota topped the list, with 20.1% of its college population being first-generation immigrants. The state’s 304,000 total higher education enrollment includes roughly 61,000 students who were born in foreign countries.
Florida placed second in the rankings. The Sunshine State recorded 19.2% of its higher education students as first-generation immigrants, with 196,000 first-generation immigrant students among its total higher education population of 1,020,000.
California ranks third, registering 15.3% of its higher education population as first-generation immigrants. California has the biggest raw number of immigrant students at 410,000 from its massive 2,677,000 total higher education enrollment.
~
~
The states with the highest percentage of first-generation immigrant students in higher education
| Rank | State | Total students in higher education | First-generation immigrant students | Percentage of first-generation immigrant students |
| 1. | Minnesota | 304,000 | 61,000 | 20.1% |
| 2. | Florida | 1,020,000 | 196,000 | 19.2% |
| 3. | California | 2,677,000 | 410,000 | 15.3% |
| 4. | New York | 1,124,000 | 169,000 | 15.0% |
| 5. (=) | Texas | 1,661,000 | 226,000 | 13.6% |
| 5. (=) | New Jersey | 546,000 | 74,000 | 13.6% |
| 6. | Washington | 339,000 | 45,000 | 13.3% |
| 7. | Maryland | 403,000 | 53,000 | 13.2% |
| 8. | Massachusetts | 449,000 | 56,000 | 12.5% |
| 9. | Virginia | 508,000 | 62,000 | 12.2% |
| 10. | Delaware | 50,000 | 6,000 | 12.0% |
On the flip side, Missouri ranked last with the lowest percentage of first-generation immigrant students in higher education across the country. Just 1.4% of its college population was born abroad. From 285,000 students attending Missouri’s colleges and universities, only 4,000 are first-generation immigrants.
Louisiana ranks second, recording 2.2% of its higher education population as first-generation immigrants. The state has 5,000 immigrant students from its 229,000 total college attendees.
South Carolina takes the third-lowest spot at 2.3%. South Carolina counts just 6,000 immigrant students in its total higher education enrollment of 262,000.
~
The states with the lowest percentage of first-generation immigrant students in higher education
| Rank | State | Total students in higher education | First-generation immigrant students | Percentage of first-generation immigrant students |
| 1. | Missouri | 285,000 | 4,000 | 1.4% |
| 2. | Louisiana | 229,000 | 5,000 | 2.2% |
| 3. | South Carolina | 262,000 | 6,000 | 2.3% |
| 4. | Georgia | 614,000 | 18,000 | 2.9% |
| 5. | West Virginia | 67,000 | 2,000 | 3.0% |
| 6. | North Carolina | 542,000 | 20,000 | 3.7% |
| 7. (=) | Arkansas | 131,000 | 5,000 | 3.8% |
| 7. (=) | Oklahoma | 156,000 | 6,000 | 3.8% |
| 8. | Tennessee | 305,000 | 13,000 | 4.3% |
| 9. (=) | Rhode Island | 64,000 | 3,000 | 4.7% |
| 9. (=) | Idaho | 106,000 | 5,000 | 4.7% |
| 10. | New Hampshire | 84,000 | 4,000 | 4.8% |
~
States ranked by percentage of first-generation immigrant students
| Rank | State | Percentage of first-generation immigrant students |
| 1. | Minnesota | 20.1% |
| 2. | Florida | 19.2% |
| 3. | California | 15.3% |
| 4. | New York | 15.0% |
| 5. (=) | Texas | 13.6% |
| 5. (=) | New Jersey | 13.6% |
| 6. | Washington | 13.3% |
| 7. | Maryland | 13.2% |
| 8. | Massachusetts | 12.5% |
| 9. | Virginia | 12.2% |
| 10. | Delaware | 12.0% |
| 11. | Illinois | 11.6% |
| 12. | Arizona | 10.9% |
| 13. | Nevada | 10.6% |
| 14. | North Dakota | 10.5% |
| 15. | Michigan | 9.7% |
| 16. | Nebraska | 8.5% |
| 17. | Connecticut | 8.2% |
| 18. | Ohio | 7.8% |
| 19. | Utah | 7.7% |
| 20. (=) | New Mexico | 7.5% |
| 20. (=) | Oregon | 7.5% |
| 21. | Kentucky | 7.2% |
| 22. | Hawaii | 6.7% |
| 23. | Pennsylvania | 6.6% |
| 24. | Mississippi | 6.2% |
| 25. | Wisconsin | 6.1% |
| 26. | Kansas | 5.7% |
| 27. | Colorado | 5.1% |
| 28. | Indiana | 4.9% |
| 29. | New Hampshire | 4.8% |
| 30. (=) | Idaho | 4.7% |
| 30. (=) | Rhode Island | 4.7% |
| 31. | Tennessee | 4.3% |
| 32. (=) | Oklahoma | 3.8% |
| 32. (=) | Arkansas | 3.8% |
| 33. | North Carolina | 3.7% |
| 34. | West Virginia | 3.0% |
| 35. | Georgia | 2.9% |
| 36. | South Carolina | 2.3% |
| 37. | Louisiana | 2.2% |
| 38. | Missouri | 1.4% |
~
Commenting on the findings, Lindsey Harris, Managing Attorney at Shoreline Immigration, says:
These statistics show that first-generation immigrant students make up a significant proportion of the higher education population in many states, particularly in Minnesota, Florida, and coastal states like California and New York. This highlights the vital contribution of immigrants to our nation’s educational landscape and future workforce.
These state-by-state differences in immigrant student enrollment could reshape regional workforces. Areas with higher immigrant student populations may develop more diverse professional talent pools as these students graduate and enter local job markets. The report comes as research from the Higher Ed Immigration Portal shows immigrant-origin students now account for nearly one-third of all students enrolled in U.S. higher education.
Their data reveals these students make up 32% of all college students nationwide in 2022, up from 20% in 2000.
The Higher Ed Immigration Portal’s research shows immigrant-origin students have powered over 90% of domestic enrollment growth at U.S. colleges and universities since 2000. Many institutions now rely on this demographic to maintain healthy enrollment figures amid broader population challenges.
College campuses with more first-generation immigrant students typically show greater diversity.
“The Higher Ed Immigration Portal reports over 80% of all immigrant-origin students identify as students of color. This compares to approximately 30% of students born in the U.S. to U.S.-born parents.”
.
Sources: Shoreline Immigration; Higher Ed Immigration Portal
Methodology: Data was gathered from Higher Ed Immigration Portal on the total number of students in higher education, the number of first-generation immigrant students, second-generation immigrant students and international students. Data wasn’t available for Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
