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The Trump administration announced on Thursday (July 16) that it will drastically shorten visas for foreign journalists in the US to 240 days, down from years, and cut those for Chinese journalists to only 90 days, raising concerns over press freedom in the United States and retaliation against US journalists overseas. It has also finalised a rule that will require international students to get the approval of the federal government if they intend to stay in the US for more than four years.

The rule pertaining to foreign journalists announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday will do away with the “duration of status” system, which allows foreign journalists to stay and work in the United States as long as they meet eligibility requirements. That will be replaced with a fixed period of time, though the visas may be extended.

Even shorter visa rule for Chinese journalists

The DHS says it’s necessary to better vet the visa holders. But advocates for foreign journalists oppose the change, saying the drastically shorter stay would severely restrict their ability to live and work in the States.

The even shorter visa rule for Chinese journalists, which does not include those from the “special administrative regions” of Hong Kong or Macau, is particularly harsh and could add tensions to the already fraught relations between Washington and Beijing, despite stated intents by both leaders to stabilise ties.

The decision comes at a time when president Donald Trump is targeting news organisations with multiple threats and legal actions at home and his administration is tightening immigration policies, though foreign journalists are not considered immigrants.

Journalism organisations denounce the decision

The rule will take effect 60 days after it’s published in the Federal Register. Congress can reject a........

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