Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies worldwide to pause scheduling new student visa interviews, a move aimed at implementing expanded social media vetting for international students, according to a State Department cable obtained by Politico. Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the directive affects F, M, and J visa applicants and is expected to last until further guidance is issued in the coming days. Existing appointments remain unaffected.
The policy shift is part of a broader crackdown on international students, with the administration citing national security and antisemitism concerns. The vetting will scrutinize applicants’ social media activity on platforms like Instagram, X, and TikTok, targeting content deemed threatening. This follows the revocation of thousands of student visas and an attempt to block Harvard University from enrolling international students, which was temporarily halted by a federal judge.
International students, numbering over 1.1 million, contribute $43.8 billion annually to the U.S. economy, supporting 378,000 jobs. The pause could disrupt university budgets, as many rely on full-tuition-paying foreign students. Critics, including NAFSA, argue the move unfairly targets students and risks driving talent to countries like the UK.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized rigorous vetting, stating, “We will use every tool to assess who’s coming here.” The policy has sparked protests and legal challenges, with universities and students decrying violations of free speech.
