19% fewer international students arrive in the US this August: Is the American dream still worth it?

International student arrivals in the US fell 19% this August, the steepest drop outside the pandemic, driven by visa delays, new travel bans, and policy uncertainty under the Trump administration. Asian arrivals plunged 24%, with a 44% fall from India. As universities face financial strain and visa hurdles mount, the appeal of the American dream is being questioned.