Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign’s enrollment of more than 5,500 Chinese nationals raises national security risks and limits opportunities for American students.
“6,000 Chinese nationals attend the Univ of Illinois, in America’s heartland,” said Cortes, President. “Meanwhile American kids can’t even get in! Why do we educate our enemies…and invite spies???”
According to Cortes, he recently posted on X about his documentary that focuses on foreign enrollment in U.S. higher education institutions. The film specifically addresses the situation at the University of Illinois, where Chinese nationals make up a significant portion of international students.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reported having 11,580 international students as of December 2023, with 5,554 hailing from China. This number represents a slight increase from previous years. International students contribute to the local economy in Champaign-Urbana through tuition fees and spending. The campus hosts students from 123 countries, with Asia accounting for 87 percent of the international student body.
College Factual reports that Chinese students form the largest international cohort in U.S. universities nationwide, numbering approximately 398,041 in 2020. Public institutions like UIUC attract many due to their strong programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Recent policies have resulted in visa revocations for some students in sensitive fields as a measure to mitigate risks. Enrollment numbers fluctuate amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Cortes is known as a political commentator and former financial strategist who worked on Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns in both 2016 and 2020. He has made appearances on major networks such as CNBC, Fox News, and CNN. Through the League of American Workers, Cortes advocates for economic policies that benefit U.S. citizens.
