Washington: A 22-year-old philosophy student from China was sent back to China after being questioned for 36 hours at a Texas airport, abruptly halting his plans to study at the University of Houston.

The student, identified only by his family name, Gu, had all his paperwork in order, a full scholarship, and prior study experience at Cornell University. Despite this, he was stopped, interrogated, and banned from returning to the US for five years.

Gu is among an unknown number of Chinese students with valid visas who have faced intense questioning or repatriation, prompting protests from Beijing amid shifting US policies under President Donald Trump. While Trump initially considered revoking visas, he later said he would welcome hundreds of thousands of Chinese students to support American schools.

US officials have expressed suspicions about Chinese students, particularly in advanced technologies like quantum computing and AI, over possible links to the Chinese government and military. There is no immediate data on how many students have been interrogated or repatriated.

The Chinese Embassy reported more than 10 students and scholars being harassed or sent back, citing long interrogations, cold waiting rooms, and repeated questioning unrelated to academic work. They said these actions contradicted Trump's statements about welcoming Chinese students.

Gu recounted being interrogated about his ties to the Communist Party, his parents' membership, and connections to the China Scholarship Council. After 10 hours of questioning over three rounds, he was told he would be deported, with removal paperwork citing inadequate documentation.

Exhausted and cold, Gu waited another day before being put on a flight home. He is now considering an appeal, which could take years and cost thousands of dollars.