The White House last week sent a memorandum titled "Treaty for Excellence in Higher Education" to nine universities. This document outlines a 10-point list of admissions requirements, including limiting the number of international students, prohibiting admissions based on race or gender, and mandating the use of standardized tests.

A notable requirement is that the number of international undergraduate students at a university must not exceed 15%, with no more than 5% originating from the same country. For institutions where international students currently constitute over 15% of their student body, subsequent cohorts will need to comply with the new limits.

The nine universities that received the proposal are Vanderbilt University, Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Texas, University of Arizona, Brown University, and University of Virginia. These institutions were selected because their leadership indicated they could provide support and feedback for the proposal's implementation.

Beyond quantitative limits, the memorandum also encourages international students to uphold American and Western values. It calls on universities to remove students who demonstrate hostility toward the US, its allies, or American values.

Universities are also required to share all known information about foreign students, including disciplinary records, with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State. Additionally, institutions must publicly disclose all foreign funding received and prohibit political protests that disrupt learning environments or harass students.

According to the White House, signing this treaty would offer universities numerous benefits, such as significant federal student loans and research grants, expedited visa approvals for international scholars, and favorable tax law incentives.

This agreement may be expanded to all universities in the US. The Department of Justice will oversee its enforcement, and institutions found in violation will lose eligibility for the aforementioned benefits.

The memorandum was issued one day after a federal judge ruled as illegal Trump's campaign to expel international students participating in pro-Palestine advocacy.

Human rights advocates warn that this proposal could raise concerns regarding freedom of speech, privacy, and academic freedom.

Previously in June, the US resumed global student visa interviews after a nearly one-month suspension. Concurrently, it implemented rigorous social media screening for prospective international students to identify any potential signs of "hostility" toward the US.

Currently, over 1.1 million international students from more than 200 countries and territories reside in the US. Vietnamese students account for over 22,000, making them the 6th largest group.