U.S. campuses reported a sharp decline in newly arriving international students this fall. The Institute of International Education’s Open Doors fall snapshot shows new international enrollment down about 17% at responding institutions, pulling overall international headcounts down modestly but signaling a steep reduction in first‑time arrivals, especially at the graduate level. Surveyed institutions reported uneven impacts across programs and campuses; many universities credited intensive visa advocacy this summer for averting a larger drop but warned that ongoing visa screening and political rhetoric are depressing future demand. Officials and international offices are recalibrating recruitment strategies, bolstering enrollment pipelines in other regions and warning trustees about potential tuition revenue shortfalls if declines persist.