U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to suspend and revoke all student visas held by Chinese nationals studying in the United States, arguing newly declassified intelligence on alleged Chinese election interference warrants immediate action.

In a July 20 letter to Rubio, the St. Petersburg Republican urged the State Department to suspend all F-1 and J-1 visas issued to Chinese nationals and halt the issuance of new visas pending a broader review of vetting procedures at American colleges and universities. F-1 visas are issued to international students enrolled at U.S. academic institutions, while J-1 visas are used for educational and cultural exchange programs.

The request follows President Donald Trump’s recent release of declassified intelligence that the administration claims documents efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. Luna argued the allegations extend beyond election security and point to broader national security concerns.

“Our nation’s universities remain one of the most vulnerable access points for foreign intelligence services,” she wrote. “Given the scale of the interference described in the declassified files, we cannot in good conscience continue to allow the current visa pipeline to serve as a potential vector for CCP influence operations targeting our democratic institutions.”

Luna said the State Department should immediately revoke all active student visas issued to Chinese nationals and suspend new visa approvals “pending a full accounting of the extent of this infiltration and a comprehensive review of vetting procedures at our institutions of higher education.”

She also reiterated comments she made following Trump’s announcement: “As I stated publicly following the President’s address: every single Chinese student visa needs to be cancelled immediately,” Luna wrote. “This is a necessary and proportionate response to a documented state-sponsored effort to undermine the integrity of American elections.”

The proposal would significantly expand current State Department policy.

In May 2025, Rubio announced the department would begin aggressively revoking visas for some Chinese students, specifically those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or those studying in fields considered critical to U.S. national security. The State Department also said it would increase scrutiny of future visa applicants from China and Hong Kong.

Luna’s proposal goes considerably further. Rather than targeting specific individuals or academic programs, she is asking Rubio to suspend and revoke visas for all Chinese nationals studying in the United States under F-1 and J-1 programs until the federal government completes what she described as a comprehensive review.

In the letter, Luna said the federal government has a responsibility to act decisively when faced with what she characterized as evidence of foreign influence operations.

“The integrity of our educational institutions and democratic processes must remain paramount,” she wrote. “I respectfully request your prompt action on this matter and stand ready to support any legislative efforts necessary to secure our nation against this ongoing threat.”

The proposal comes as Congress and the Trump administration have continued to increase scrutiny of Chinese influence in the United States, particularly in higher education and research institutions. Federal officials have argued that some academic partnerships and student programs present national security concerns, while critics of broader restrictions have warned against policies that could affect students with no ties to the Chinese government.