US President, Donald Trump suspends student visas indefinitely

US President Donald Trump’s administration has directed American embassies to immediately stop scheduling student visa appointments as it prepares to broaden “social media vetting” of applicants.

In a memo addressed to diplomatic posts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the suspension would remain in effect “until further guidance is issued.”

The communication emphasized that “social media vetting” would be ramped up for both student and foreign exchange visa applicants, with “significant implications” for embassies and consulates worldwide.

This development follows Trump’s ongoing conflict with several elite American universities, which he has criticized for being excessively “left-wing.” He contends that some institutions have tolerated antisemitism on campus and maintained discriminatory admissions practices.

According to a diplomatic cable obtained by the BBC’s US partner CBS News, US embassies were instructed on Tuesday to remove any “unfilled appointments” for student visa applicants from their schedules. However, those with already confirmed appointments will still be allowed to proceed.

The cable also noted that the State Department is preparing for an “expansion of required social media screening and vetting” that will apply to all student visa applications.

Foreign students seeking to study in the US must usually attend in-person interviews at American embassies in their home countries before obtaining visa approval. Many US institutions rely heavily on international students, who typically pay higher tuition fees, to sustain their funding.

When asked about the new student visa policy, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Tuesday: “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.”

The Trump administration has previously frozen “hundreds of millions of dollars” in university funding and attempted to “deport students,” revoking thousands of visas. Many of these actions have been challenged and blocked by the courts.

The White House has accused certain universities of allowing “pro-Palestinian activism” on campuses to be “hijacked by antisemitism.”

Colleges, in turn, have accused the Trump administration of trying to curtail “free speech rights.”

Harvard University has become the primary focus of President Trump’s ire. Last week, the administration rescinded Harvard’s ability to enroll international students or host foreign researchers—a move that was subsequently blocked by a federal judge.

If allowed to proceed, the policy could have dire consequences for Harvard, where “more than a quarter of students are foreign.”

Credit: BBC