Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act of 2023

The Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act of 2023 establishes a process for designating foreign actors as "foreign intelligence threats to higher education" if they've engaged in activities like espionage, theft of trade secrets, or visa fraud. The Director of the FBI can designate such actors after finding they've committed specific security-related violations, which would lead to revocation of their visas, removal from the U.S., and inadmissibility. Institutions of higher education must now report gifts or contracts from foreign sources, including designated threats, with specific disclosure requirements about the identity and value of such transactions. The bill also adds new deportation provisions for designated foreign actors and requires annual reports assessing the impact of foreign activities on academic research and security. This legislation aims to address national security concerns related to foreign actors in academic settings while providing mechanisms for review and appeal.