The Trump administration has announced a significant reduction in the length of visas for foreign journalists in the United States, cutting the standard duration from five years to 240 days. Chinese journalists face an even stricter limit of just 90 days. The new rule, issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), replaces the longstanding "duration of status" system, which allowed foreign journalists to remain in the country as long as they met eligibility requirements.
Details of the new visa policy
In addition to journalists, the policy also affects foreign students and exchange visitors, who the government claims have been allowed to "remain in the United States indefinitely without routine government oversight." DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated, "For nearly half a century, the outdated 'duration of status' system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud." He added that foreign students have been admitted indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse the system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid leaving the US.
Mullin emphasized that implementing "clear, finite limits" on visas allows the US to "reclaim its ability to properly screen, vet and monitor individuals within our borders."
Reaction from press freedom advocates
Advocates for foreign journalists have strongly opposed the change. Reporters Without Borders expressed outrage, stating, "We are outraged that the Trump administration has cruelly limited the duration of visas for foreign journalists from a period of up to five years to a fixed eight months." The Committee to Protect Journalists called the policy "the behavior of a backsliding democracy, not the international vanguard of free speech."
The organization warned that a "relentless cycle of visa renewals restricts press freedom, as journalists will feel compelled to avoid drawing the administration's ire, lest their applications be rejected."
Context and broader implications
The decision comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to tighten immigration policies and target news organizations with threats and legal actions. The new system will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Chinese journalists face particularly severe restrictions, with the first Trump administration proposing a 90-day rule in 2020 that was later dropped by the Biden administration.
In response, China's foreign ministry condemned the decision as "discriminatory." Spokesperson Lin Jian urged the US to "immediately revoke its discriminatory policies targeting Chinese journalists and effectively safeguard their lawful rights and interests in the US," adding that China "reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures."
