Chart: Latin American Students in the United States
Chart: Latin American Students in the United States
Which Latin American countries have the most students enrolled in U.S. educational institutions? And which courses are they pursuing?
On May 22, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. This came after U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem requested information on all student visa holders at the institution, including each student’s coursework, any known illegal activity, and involvement in protests. While Harvard claims it provided all requested information, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deemed the response insufficient and canceled the university’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, an authorization needed to enroll and keep international students in any U.S. academic institution. Harvard responded with a lawsuit, and a federal judge temporarily blocked the the DHS mandate that same day. That block has since been extended, allowing Harvard to maintain its SEVP certification amid legal proceedings. However, on June 4, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation suspending the entry of any new Harvard international students into the United States. After a judge temporarily blocked the move, the Department of State ordered embassies and consulates to resume processing of Harvard student and exchange visitor visa.
On May 27, in a move separate from the Harvard legal battle, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suspended all interview appointments for those applying for U.S. student and exchange visas. The order, issued to U.S. embassies and consulates, specifies that the suspension will remain in effect until new guidance is issued regarding expansions to the social media screening requirements for visa applicants. For now, any international student admitted to a U.S. institution can’t make an appointment to obtain a visa.
What might these changes mean for Latin American students in the United States and their educational institutions? In the 2023–24 school year, 1.1 million international students were enrolled in the United States. Of these, around 86,000 were from Latin America and the Caribbean.
AS/COA Online breaks down where students come from, as well as the levels and fields of study they are pursuing.
AS/COA is tracking the U.S. president's actions toward the region, including on trade and migration.
The U.S. president is resurrecting first-term tactics and promising a more aggressive reduction in immigration. AS/COA is monitoring the regional impacts.
