US stops interviews for student visas
The administration of President Donald Trump has ordered its missions abroad to stop new meetings for student visas and exchanges, while the State Department is preparing to expand the inspection of foreign students on social media, according to an internal telegram seen by Reuters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in the telegram that the agency plans to issue updated guidelines on the inspection of students and visas for exchange on social networks after the review is completed and advised consular departments to stop schedules for such visa meetings.
This happens at a time when the Trump administration seeks to increase deportations and cancel student visas as part of its widespread efforts to implement its immigration program.
Trump has asked for foreign students at Harvard
Several hundred protesters, including students and teachers at Harvard University, demonstrated in support of foreign students on Harvard’s campus on Tuesday, while protesting the Trump administration’s efforts to terminate the university’s funding.
In the gram, which was first reported by « Politico, » Rubio said that the scheduled meetings may continue according to these guidelines, but the available interview opportunities that are no longer busy must be withdrawn.
« The ministry is reviewing existing operations and processes for checking and verifying candidates for student and exchange visas (F, M, J) and on the basis of this review plans to issue guidance for extended inspection on social media for all such candidates, » the said in Gram.
A senior employee of the State Department confirmed the accuracy of the gram.
State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce declined to comment on the messages, but said the United States would use « every instrument » to check anyone who wants to enter the United States. « We will continue to use every tool we can to appreciate who comes here, whether they are students or others, » Bruce told a regular news briefing reporters.
Extended social media check will require consular departments to change their operations, processes and distribution of resources according to the telegram, which advises departments in the future to take into account the workload and the requirements for resources on each case before they schedule them.
The gram also advises consular departments to remain focused on services for US citizens, immigrant visas and the prevention of fraud.
Trump administration officials said that student visas and green card holders are subject to deportation because of their support for the Palestinians and their criticism of Israel’s behavior in the Gaza war, calling their actions a threat to US foreign policy and blaming them in support of Hamas.
Trump’s critics called the efforts on an attack on the right to freedom of expression under the first amendment to the US Constitution.
Trump has also requested termination of the other Harvard contracts
A student at Tufts University from Turkey has been held for more than six weeks at the Louisiana Immigration Citizens’ detention center after being a co -author of an article criticizing the reaction of her University of Israel’s War in Gaza. She was released from custody after a federal judge approved her guarantee.
Last week, the Trump administration took action to revoke Harvard’s right to accept foreign students. These approximately 6,800 students make up about 27% of the total number of enrolled students in Harvard.
The Republican President’s administration has taken action to undermine financial stability and the global authority of the oldest and richest university in the country after he rejected the government’s demands for major changes in his policies.
