Trump administrator suspends new review process for US student visa appointments – country
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has ordered new appointments for students and exchange visitors visa applicants in foreign missions as the State Department prepares to expand social media censorship for foreign students, according to an internal cable seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in the cable that the department plans to review the latest guidelines for social media reviews for students and exchange visitors applicants after completing the review and advised the consular department to stop scheduling such visa appointments.
The move comes as the Trump administration attempts to step up deportation and revoke student visas, part of its broad efforts to achieve his hardline immigration agenda.
Rubio said in Cable that dates that have been scheduled can be made according to current guidelines, but dates that have not yet been made should be cancelled.
“The department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes to screen and review student and exchange visitors (F, M, J) visa applicants and based on that review, an expanded social media review guide for all such applicants is planned.”
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State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce declined to comment on the cable’s report, but said the U.S. will use “every tool” to review anyone who wants to enter the U.S..
“We will continue to use each tool to evaluate the people coming here, whether they are students or others,” Bruce told reporters during a regular press conference.
According to the cable, extended social media review will require consular departments to modify their operations, processes and resource allocations, which suggests future parts to take into account the workload and resource requirements before each situation.
The cable also recommends that the consular department focus on services for U.S. citizens, immigration visas and fraud prevention.
Trump administration officials said student visa and green card holders would be deported for their support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war, saying their actions are a threat to U.S. foreign policy and accusing them of being loved ones.
Trump critics say efforts have attacked the right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A Tufts University student from Turkey criticized the school's reaction to Israel's war in Gaza, held for more than six weeks at an immigration detention center in Louisiana. She was released after a federal judge approved bail.
Last week, the Trump administration revoked Harvard admissions. These approximately 6,800 students account for about 27% of Harvard's total enrollment.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the plan as litigation against the government moved through the court.
The Republican president's administration has undermined the financial stability and global status of the oldest and wealthiest universities in the United States after it undermines the government's demand for huge policy changes.
