Kane County Reporter

Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, has called for a ban on Chinese students attending American schools. This statement follows a report alleging that Evan Glazer, President and CEO of the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA), is attempting to collaborate with organizations linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

"An elite public high school in Illinois, acting in concert with Chinese Communists," said Cortes, Founder of League of American Workers. "Time to ban Chinese nationals from American schools."

According to Laurie Higgins from Breakthrough Ideas, Glazer is "trying to collaborate" with CCP-linked organizations. Previously, Glazer served as principal of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) in Fairfax County, Virginia. During his tenure there, millions of dollars from Chinese-affiliated groups were reportedly funneled through a school fundraising entity. These funds allegedly facilitated the sharing of sensitive school information and intellectual property, which Higgins claims were used to help establish Chinese "Thomas Schools."

Cortes' post on X | X

Higgins further states that Glazer’s collaborations at TJHSST allowed Chinese partners access to detailed data on school research labs, curricula, admissions processes, and other internal operations. This partnership raised concerns about the potential exploitation of American intellectual property by CCP-linked organizations. According to Higgins, there has been little response from educational authorities or government leaders over the past decade regarding these issues. At IMSA, similar collaborations are reportedly occurring, including a proposed three-week residential program in China focusing on STEM subjects.

In March 2025, Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, addressed national security risks related to Chinese nationals enrolled in U.S. graduate STEM programs in a letter to Stanford University President Dr. Jonathan Levin. The letter accuses elite universities of prioritizing financial gain from international tuition—especially from China—over American student access and national interests. Moolenaar warns that China exploits academic institutions to access sensitive technologies for military and economic gain and cites intelligence reports on espionage threats. He requested information from Stanford regarding Chinese student enrollment, research access, funding sources, and collaborations with China-linked entities.

Cortes is also noted as a Senior Political Advisor for CatholicVote according to their website.