Experts warn Trump treatment of international students hurts U.S.

The Trump administration’s course reversal on allowing international students to stay in the U.S. and take classes online was a victory for universities and advocacy groups that had condemned the initial policy proposal.

But a week of chaos following the policy announcement has put a spotlight on larger problems surrounding a declining international student body, with experts warning the trend has both immediate and long-term consequences for the U.S.

International students contribute an estimated $41 billion to the economy and support half a million jobs. And while 1.1 million foreign students are currently studying in the U.S., that represents an 11 percent decline since 2016. Continue reading.