Trump admin pauses student visa interviews and prepares to start vetting social media

The Trump administration is halting student visa interviews and considering a social media vetting requirement as its immigration crackdown extends to people who want to study in the U.S.Why it matters: The move would be a major escalation for the White House, which has already started monitoring immigrants' social media for antisemitism and has detained students for pro-Palestine campus activism."We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that's coming here, whether they are students or otherwise," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at a briefing on Tuesday. Driving the news: The administration is ordering U.S. embassies and consular sections to pause new interviews for student visa applications, according to a Tuesday directive by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Politico first reported the directive and The Guardian confirmed separately.Bruce declined to comment on reports about the cable. The State Department declined to offer additional comment, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to Axios' immediate request for clarification. State of play: Immigration officials have focused screening measures primarily on students and alumni linked to pro-Palestinian campus protests. Since March, consular officers have been required to conduct social media reviews looking for support for purported "terrorist activity or a terrorist organization." Such activity could be as broad as showing support for Palestinians, according to an earlier cable obtained by The Guardian.Between the lines: The new vetting would apply to all student visa applicants, not just those flagged for activism. Consular officers would examine applicants' posts, shares and comments across platforms like Instagram, X, and TikTok.Neither Bruce nor the new cable identified specified guidelines for future social media vetting.By the numbers: There are more than one million foreign students in the U.S.Collectively they contribute almost $43.8 billion to the national economy and supported more than 378,000 jobs between 2023 and 2024, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators.Zoom out: The Trump administration has targeted students, universities and immigrants for alleged antisemitism. Frequently, those targeted have been critical of Israel's war in Gaza. The administration in recent days has escalated its attacks on Harvard University, which has been the highest profile school to defy the president's demands on areas like hiring, curricula and admissions.The administration also tried to pull the school's ability to enroll international students last week, which a judge temporarily barred after Harvard sued the administration a second time.Columbia University was the administration's first big target, and it quickly caved under pressure to retain funding.What to watch: Leo Terrell, who leads the Justice Department's antisemitism task force, said on Fox News Tuesday that the University of California system should expect "massive lawsuits," and that universities "on the East Coast, on the West Coast, in the Midwest" are also likely to see legal action.

Comments

World news

Ukraine humiliates Putin again as covert drone operation destroys 100+ armoured vehicles

Express

Brit teen jailed in Dubai for sex with fellow UK tourist begs ruling Sheikh for pardon after 'most traumatic and life-altering experience imaginable'

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Good luck finding a spot at the beach! Majorca AXES 1,700 sunbeds from its beaches - to make room for locals

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

NATO chief says a '400% increase' in air and missile defence is required to protect Europe from Putin and become 'a more lethal alliance'

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Trump orders the arrest of everyone in face masks and says 'bring in the troops' as LA burns, looting breaks out and violence spirals out of control following migrant crackdown protests

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

'I saw a lioness trying to EAT my husband, with his head in its jaws': Heroic wife relives moment she HIT lion in the face in doomed bid to save partner - and says she does not want the animal killed, despite his death

about 1 hour ago

French economy in meltdown as 'Europe's most costly pension system to collapse'

Express

Comments

Similar News

In photos: Trump deploys National Guard to LA as ICE raid protests flare for 3rd day

LA protests LIVE: National Guard deployed as Trump cracks down on demonstrators

Trump orders law enforcement to ‘liberate’ LA from ‘migrant invasion’ amid clashes over ICE raids

'Have my house' - Usyk invites Trump to witness Ukraine war

Trump stumbles on steps up to Air Force One

Chabria: The insurrection that wasn't, and other Trump fantasies

Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives downplays Musk’s influence on Trump’s tax and budget bill

Trump calls Musk ‘big-time drug addict’ according to report, as feud shows no sign of ending

Trump’s tax and budget bill was written for ‘hardworking Americans, not ‘to please’ Musk: Mike Johnson

ABC News suspends journalist after calling Trump and adviser ‘world-class’ haters

What to know about Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to LA protests

A quirky vegetable sculpture contest features a squash Donald Trump and a papal 'Cornclave'

Elon Musk 'has PTSD from Trump's White House' as dad reveals one huge regret

ABC suspends reporter who interviewed Trump after devastating analysis of president – and Stephen Miller

Papal ‘Cornclave’ and squash Trump featured in U.K. veggie sculpture contest

U.S. National Guard setting up in L.A. at Trump’s behest following ICE protests

Trump uses LA protests to redirect dissent from policy failures to the ‘enemy within’

Trump's quick intervention in LA may thrill his base but inflame the US

‘The stuff of dictatorships’: Trump admin threat to deploy military to LA protest met with angry reactions

Sanders warns of authoritarianism after Trump deploys national guard to LA

World news

Ukraine humiliates Putin again as covert drone operation destroys 100+ armoured vehicles

Russian economy meltdown as vodka production plummets 13.2% amid potato shortage

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk sends invitation to Trump over Russian war

Newsom taunts Trump’s ‘tough guy’ border czar to ‘come get me’ after arrest threat

All you need to know about Gavin Newsom, the Californian governor fighting with Trump over LA protests

Succession power struggles as Mall of the Emirates owners ordered to restructure

Trump’s tariffs have made fast fashion even more exploitative. Here’s how

Africa’s largest slum now takes Bitcoin

Diddy trial live: Ex-girlfriend ‘Jane’ to testify for third day as Combs lawyers call for mistrial again

What has happened to Greta Thunberg and the Freedom Floatila? Climate activist says team has been 'kidnapped'

NATO chief Rutte calls for 400% increase in the alliance's air and missile defense

Shardlake cast, filming locations and episode guide for ITV drama

Glyndebourne Festival’s Saul is an absolute must-see

Rachel Reeves set to allow firms to raid pension funds – what it means for you

The Origins of the Campus Wars

Trump’s big, beautiful bill, explained in 5 charts

There’s a name for what Diddy allegedly did to Cassie — but you won’t hear it at trial

Who's on board the 'diverted' Gaza aid boat with Greta Thunberg?

Scariest AI reality: Companies don't fully understand their models

Brit teen jailed in Dubai for sex with fellow UK tourist begs ruling Sheikh for pardon after 'most traumatic and life-altering experience imaginable'

Good luck finding a spot at the beach! Majorca AXES 1,700 sunbeds from its beaches - to make room for locals

NATO chief says a '400% increase' in air and missile defence is required to protect Europe from Putin and become 'a more lethal alliance'

Trump orders the arrest of everyone in face masks and says 'bring in the troops' as LA burns, looting breaks out and violence spirals out of control following migrant crackdown protests

'I saw a lioness trying to EAT my husband, with his head in its jaws': Heroic wife relives moment she HIT lion in the face in doomed bid to save partner - and says she does not want the animal killed, despite his death

French economy in meltdown as 'Europe's most costly pension system to collapse'

Chaos at major European airport after private jet skids off runway

Public employees in Iraq’s Kurdish region caught in the middle of Baghdad-Irbil oil dispute

Elon Musk’s father plays down Trump spat in interview with Russian newspaper

Watch: Federal agents use tear gas and flash grenades to disperse LA protesters

Donald Trump Jr weighs into LA crisis by suggesting protesters should be shot by ‘Rooftop Koreans’

What does the law say about Trump sending troops to LA and ICE protests?

Greta Thunberg and Gaza flotilla activists to be forced to watch October 7 footage after aid boat seized

As Putin ramps up his summer offensive in Ukraine, will he succeed?

NATO chief Rutte calls for 400% increase in the alliance's air and missile defense

Bellagio fountains shooting: Two dead after gunman opens fire on Las Vegas strip

White House press secretary Leavitt plays down Musk ‘fistfight’ reports: ‘It was definitely a disagreement’

Ukrainian Opera star killed in latest attack on war-torn Sumy region

NATO planes scrambled in Poland as Russia launches wave of strikes across Ukraine

Italians vote on citizenship, labor reform, but low turnout may sink referendum

Ukraine says Russia launched 479 drones in the war’s biggest overnight drone bombardment

Bitcoin is introduced into Africa's largest slum, with risks and rewards

Top holiday resort approves huge fines for public sex and nudity in major crackdown on badly-behaved Brit tourists

Shocking drone vid reveals slain Hamas chief Sinwar’s sinister terror tunnel lair DIRECTLY under Gaza hospital

Violence spirals out of control across LA after Trump says ‘bring in the troops’

National SEND watchdog only way to guarantee children’s support, Government told

‘We don’t feel wanted’: Why second-home taxes don’t just punish the rich

Contractor discovers ancient tomb complex after clearing rubble of destroyed home

'More lethal alliance': NATO chief to call for 400% increase in air and missile defence

UK teen jailed in Dubai for holiday romance pleads with Sheikh to let him go

Religious history 'rewritten' with 'greatest discovery since Dead Sea Scrolls'

Schoolboy, 12, dies from horrific head lice infestation after fighting for life for two weeks

Silicon Valley's not crying for Elon Musk

U.S. and Chinese officials to hold trade talks in London on Monday

Israeli forces seize Gaza-bound boat and detain Greta Thunberg and other activists

Ocean Temperatures Are Increasing Around the World. See Where.

Crimea, Once a Crossroad of Civilizations, Finds Itself Isolated and Under Attack

Iran expands ban on dog walking - ‘threat to public health’