Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) appeared on Jesse Watters Primetime Friday night to promote his new legislation aimed at blocking foreign nationals from adversarial nations—specifically China and Iran—from enrolling in American universities. The bill, titled the “Integrity Act,” seeks to halt what Tuberville described as the U.S. “funding our own demise.”
The Alabama senator highlighted the growing number of Chinese and Iranian students in critical academic programs across the country. He cited a recent visit to a small Southern university where he noticed 40 Chinese graduates receiving engineering and cybersecurity degrees. “We have lost our mind,” Tuberville said. “We’re inviting them to come, we’re giving them visas, and that’s blocking our American kids from having opportunities.”
According to Tuberville, over 1.5 million foreign nationals are currently studying in U.S. universities, many of them from countries with known espionage ties or adversarial stances toward the United States. The bill proposes strict limitations on admissions from these nations and adds layers of accountability for universities that violate the rules.
Under the Integrity Act, colleges would be required to disclose any funding or special arrangements related to foreign nationals and adhere to strict visa compliance timelines. Failure to comply could result in penalties for the institution. “If they break one of these rules, they will pay a price,” Tuberville said.
The senator stressed the lack of federal oversight in the current system and warned of the long-term consequences. “We have to have oversight on this or we’re going to lose,” he warned. “We’re educating our own demise in this country.”
Tuberville’s bill aligns with growing concerns among national security experts over the risk of intellectual property theft and espionage tied to foreign students, particularly those in STEM fields. Lawmakers have raised alarms in recent years over Chinese state-sponsored influence in academic institutions.
