Higher ed institutions reported a 17% drop in new international enrollees this year.

International student enrollment rates at American colleges and universities fell sharply this year, driven by visa application issues as prospective students are caught up in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

“The U.S. is no longer the central place that students aspire to come to,” said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a nonprofit group. Aw attributed the decline to difficulties in obtaining a U.S. visa, saying the issues have made the U.S. “less competitive” on the global stage.

According to the IIE report, 96% of higher education institutions cited visa application concerns as an obstacle for enrollment.