For the very first time in its history, the US had to face a decline in international student enrollment in 2003–2004 and the following academic year. It was partly attributed to the implemented security changes in the wake of 9/11, and partly also because of stronger competition from other countries.

New data for international student enrollment at US colleges and universities again shows a slight increase of 3 percent for the 2006–2007 academic year, with a total of 582,984 international students enrolled. However, legislators in Congress are under pressure to assert leadership and enact bold international educational legislation to ensure that the US won’t lag behind in the international competition for students.