The Trump administration has directed American universities to cap international undergraduate enrolment at 15 per cent of total admissions, with no more than 5 per cent of students allowed from any single country. The directive, outlined in a 10-point memo circulated by the White House, links compliance to access to federal funding.

The guidance urges institutions exceeding the limit to align incoming classes accordingly. It forms part of a broader policy tying federal grants to conditions on diversity, tuition freezes and adherence to what the administration calls “American and Western values”. Universities agreeing to the terms will be eligible for “substantial and meaningful” federal grants.

The memo further requires universities to share information about foreign students — including disciplinary records — with the Departments of Homeland Security and State. Letters seeking agreement and feedback have reportedly been sent to several leading universities, including MIT, Brown, Vanderbilt, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Rights groups have criticised the move, warning it could infringe on privacy, free speech, and academic freedom, particularly in light of recent efforts to deport pro-Palestinian students.

Inputs from Economic Times

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