Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, has called for a ban on Chinese nationals attending U.S. schools. He cites national security concerns over mandatory Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reporting laws and argues that taxpayer-funded education should prioritize American students.
“This awful case highlights why it’s imperative that we ban all Chinese nationals from attending US schools,” said Cortes, Founder of League of American Workers. “Chinese students are required, by Chinese law, to report information and intelligence back to the CCP. We cannot take these risks any longer. We taxpayers fund these schools, including the private colleges. American schools should be for American young people.”
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, an arrest was made involving Chinese national Yunqing Jian, who is accused of smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States while conducting research at the University of Michigan. Patel said, “This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences… putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.” He further noted that Chinese law compels students to report to the CCP, creating a significant national security risk.
Federal authorities have charged two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud. The charges relate to their alleged actions in bringing a dangerous fungus—classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon—into the U.S. for research purposes at the University of Michigan. According to the Department of Justice’s criminal complaint, they smuggled Fusarium graminearum, a pathogen responsible for crop disease and significant health risks to humans and livestock. Investigators indicate that Jian received funding from the Chinese government and showed loyalty to the CCP.
Cortes responded to these developments by reiterating his call for banning Chinese nationals from American schools. He emphasized that taxpayers fund these educational institutions. In March 2025, Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sent a letter to Stanford University President Dr. Jonathan Levin expressing concerns about national security risks posed by enrolling Chinese nationals in U.S. graduate STEM programs. The letter accuses elite universities of prioritizing financial gain from international tuition—particularly from China—over American student access and national interests. It warns that China exploits academic institutions to access sensitive technologies for military and economic gain.
Steve Cortes is also noted as being a Senior Political Advisor for CatholicVote according to their website.
