AsianFin -- The Trump administration has directed U.S. embassies and consulates overseas to suspend new appointment scheduling for student and exchange visitor visa applicants. This decision comes as the State Department prepares to implement expanded social media vetting for foreign students, according to a report from Reuters.
In an internal cable, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the department intends to release updated guidance on social media vetting for student and exchange visitor applicants once a review is complete. He advised consular sections to halt the scheduling of such appointments in the meantime.
This directive aligns with the Trump administration's broader push to increase deportations and revoke student visas, part of a wider effort to advance its hardline immigration agenda. According to the cable, first reported by Politico, existing appointments will continue under current guidelines, but unscheduled slots should be removed.
“The Department is reviewing current procedures for screening and vetting student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants and, following this review, plans to issue updated guidance to expand social media vetting for all such applicants,” the cable stated.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment directly on the cable but reiterated that the U.S. will use "every tool" available to vet individuals seeking entry into the country. “We will continue to use every resource to determine who is coming here—whether they are students or not,” Bruce said during a press briefing.
The expanded social media checks will require consular sections to adjust their processes, resources, and appointment scheduling, taking into account each case’s workload and resource demands before proceeding. The cable also reminded consular sections to prioritize services for U.S. citizens, immigrant visas, and fraud prevention.
Administration officials have also indicated that student visa holders and green card holders could face deportation for expressing support for Palestinians or criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza—actions the administration views as hostile to U.S. foreign policy and aligned with Hamas. Critics argue these policies infringe upon First Amendment protections of free speech.
One high-profile case involved a Tufts University student from Turkey, who spent over six weeks in immigration detention after co-authoring an article critical of her school’s response to the war in Gaza. She was released after a federal judge granted her bail.
In a related development, the Trump administration recently moved to revoke Harvard University’s authority to enroll international students, a decision that could impact approximately 6,800 students—27% of its total enrollment. This action appears part of a broader effort to undermine Harvard’s financial stability and international reputation after the university resisted government calls for sweeping policy changes.
