The Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies to halt new student visa interview appointments while it considers expanding mandatory social media vetting for all F, M, and J visa applicants, according to a State Department cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The move could delay visa processing and financially impact U.S. universities that rely heavily on international students. Previous vetting focused on students who had joined protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, but future criteria remain unspecified.
The administration frames the policy under efforts to combat terrorism and antisemitism. Critics, including the international education group NAFSA, warn the policy unfairly targets foreign students and risks damaging U.S. higher education and diplomacy.
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