Trump memo sets 15% cap on international students at US colleges

The Trump administration has told US colleges to limit international undergraduate students to 15% of their total enrollment, according to a 10-point memo shared by the White House. The memo also specifies that no more than 5% of students can come from any one country.

The memo urges universities to ensure incoming classes comply with the cap if current enrollment exceeds the 15% limit. The guidance is part of a broader set of rules linking federal funding to international enrollment, diversity, tuition freezes, and ideological alignment. Colleges that agree to the terms can access “substantial and meaningful federal grants,” the memo said.

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Foreign students are expected to support “American and Western values,” and schools must screen applicants for hostility to the US or its allies. Universities are also required to share all known information about foreign students, including disciplinary records, with the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department.

Letters requesting agreement and feedback were sent to universities including Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, MIT, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Texas, University of Arizona, and University of Virginia. The US Justice Department will review adherence, and schools found in violation could lose access to federal benefits.

Rights advocates warn that the policy could raise free speech, privacy, and academic freedom concerns, particularly amid recent attempts by the Trump administration to deport pro-Palestinian students.

with inputs from reuters