WASHINGTON, DC - The Trump administration has placed a pause on all student visas while also considering the vetting of social media accounts of new applicants, according to reports.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered all U.S. embassies and consulates to pause student visa applicant interviews, according to an internal cable obtained by Politico.
“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor…visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued [separate telegram, which we anticipate in the coming days,” it read, according to the New York Post.
In recent weeks, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security have revoked thousands of visas from international students, with mixed success in some cases.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters the department won’t “speak about individual visa cases.”
“We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country. And we’re going to continue to do that…and again, whether they be student[s] or if you’re a tourist who needs a visa, whoever you are, we’re going to be looking at you,” Bruce continued.
“It seems to be such a controversial thing that’s going on, but it shouldn’t be, and every nation should take seriously, and does, who’s coming in. So if you’re going to be applying for a visa, follow the normal process, the normal steps, expect to be looked at and we go on from there.”
Last week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem moved to remove nearly 7,000 Harvard University students from foreign countries, however was blocked by yet another unelected federal judge, who joined the chorus of primarily left-wing judges who have blocked the Trump administration from carrying out executive branch actions.
In this case, another blue state judge, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White in Oakland, CA., implemented a nationwide injunction barring the administration from terminating the legal status of any international students or allowing immigration authorities to arrest or detain them, in yet another case of low-level federal district judges apparently overstepping their jurisdiction.
Thus far, at least 4,000 visas have been revoked from international students with criminal records, with charges including arson, wildlife and human trafficking, child endangerment, domestic abuse, DUI, and robbery, a senior State Department official told The Post last month.
It was also reported that the State Department previously set up an AI-powered pilot program to “catch and revoke” student visas after examining holders’ social media accounts for statements expressing sympathy with terrorist groups such as Hamas.
“Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security,” Rubio said. “The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists.”
In early April, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it was taking into account an applicant’s support for “antisemitic terrorism” when deciding whether to accept or reject student visas or green cards.
Devin Connolly is a partner at Reeves Immigration Law Group, which is handling some cases of international students with revoked visas. He said such reviews of social media accounts are nothing new and have been used in most cases for authorities to determine if a marriage is legitimate.
“The administration, and especially Secretary Rubio, have been very clear that nobody is entitled to a visa and that they will not be issuing visas to foreign nationals whose beliefs and activities are contrary to the United States ‘national interests,’” Connolly said.
Connolly, however, questioned if social media posts critical of the Trump administration and its policies conflict with US national interests.
“It is easy to foresee denials for certain postings about Israel and Hamas, but what about postings about Afrikaners being granted refugee status? We will have to see if a subject like that is controversial enough to warrant a denial.”
The Post reached out to the White House and State Department, neither of which immediately responded to a request for comment.
