Chicago City Wire

Brian Kasal, President of Northside Republicans, said that stricter Chinese visa requirements will help refocus the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) on serving Illinois students instead of advancing foreign interests. Kasal made his statement to Chicago City Wire.

"UIUC was built to serve Illinois, not to be a training ground for global competitors," said Kasal. "With growing geopolitical tensions and real risks to research security, increased visa oversight is both timely and wise. Illinois students and taxpayers deserve to be the top priority in admissions and access. The future of Illinois depends on how we invest in our own people—not how we accommodate others."

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the implementation of stricter visa criteria for students from China, focusing on applicants in critical fields and those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The policy is intended to increase oversight and protect U.S. research and national interests. At UIUC, over 6,000 Chinese students are currently enrolled, making them the largest international group on a campus of nearly 60,000. Tighter screening could shift some enrollment, but officials note it could also strengthen the system by prioritizing transparency and aligning with national security goals.

IPM News reported that in March 2025, the Republican-led House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent a letter to UIUC and five other universities requesting details on their Chinese international student populations. The committee warned that heavy reliance on foreign tuition poses national security risks, citing concerns over research integrity and China's access to U.S. institutions. Chair John Moolenaar called the student visa system a "Trojan horse for Beijing." UIUC officials noted that students must typically show intent to return home to secure a visa.

Kasal, a resident of Chicago's 43rd Ward, was first appointed as President of Chicago's Northside Republican Club in 2021. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Chicago Northside voters."