With state-funded universities cutting programs and tuition fees rising as a result of the economic climate, there is a growing chorus that foreign students are taking resources at the expense of local students. Protectionist sentiments like this are typical during an economic downturn, but they are being fueled by the increasing numbers of foreign students on campuses. The objections start with the premise that state-funded universities exist to educate local students and that subsidizing foreign students is a luxury that taxpayers cannot afford. Some countries are debating caps on foreign student visas to address this perceived problem, while others see international students as a critical factor for global competitiveness. The data confirms that educating foreign students is a strategic investment in the economy. President Obama, in his 2011 State of the Union address picked up on this theme, stating that many students “come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us.”