U.S. suspends student visa appointments globally, pushes for social media vetting 

In a diplomatic cable issued Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U.S. missions globally to pause all new appointments for F, M, and J category visas, which cover international students and exchange visitors, pending further guidance from Washington.

“Effective immediately… consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,” the cable read.

This latest directive adds to a series of measures by the Trump administration aimed at tightening the screening process for international students, citing national security concerns and claims that some may be involved in antisemitic or disruptive activities on U.S. campuses.

Rubio made the administration’s stance clear:

“If you apply for a visa to be a student… and you tell us your goal is not just education but activism that disrupts campuses, we’re not going to give you a visa,” he said.

This move comes just days after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling international students, a decision later overturned by a federal judge.

“These students are extraordinary… Why don’t we vet them, clear them, and let them build businesses and create jobs here?” he said.

Naijaonpoint earlier reported that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Kristi Noem, announced the termination of two grants to Harvard University totaling over $2.7 million.

These grants were part of federal funding initiatives aimed at various research and public health programs.