In a bold legislative move, first-term Rep. Riley Moore has introduced the Stop Chinese Communist Prying by Vindicating Intellectual Safeguards in Academia Act (Stop CCP VISAs Act), which seeks to prohibit all Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas. Moore asserts that the bill is necessary to curb potential espionage threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
According to Moore, the U.S. grants nearly 300,000 student visas annually to Chinese nationalscreating vulnerabilities that could be exploited for intellectual property theft and military espionage. Supporters of the bill point to specific cases, including:
“These cases highlight the risk of Chinese nationals exploiting student visas to spy on American institutions,” Moore stated, calling for an immediate ban to “turn off the spigot.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Brandon Gill (Texas), Addison McDowell (N.C.), Troy Nehls (Texas), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), and Scott Perry (Pa.). While Moore has announced the legislation, it has yet to appear in Congress’s official repository.
The proposed law states:
The proposal has sparked strong opposition from civil rights groups and academic leaders. John C. Yang, president of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)condemned the bill as “xenophobic and exclusionary.”
“History has shown us that broad bans based on nationality do not enhance security but instead fuel prejudice and division,” Yang argued, warning that such policies could drive international students to other countries, harming America’s leadership in technology, research, and innovation.
Moore’s Stop CCP VISAs Act has ignited a heated debate over national security vs. academic openness. While supporters claim it will protect U.S. intellectual property and defensecritics warn of its potential economic and diplomatic fallout. As the legislation progresses, it is expected to face significant scrutiny and opposition from universities, tech leaders, and civil rights advocates.
