US halts scholar visa appointments and plans expanded social media vetting

US President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered embassies to cease scheduling appointments for scholar visas because it prepares to develop social media vetting of such candidates.

In a replica of a memo despatched to diplomatic posts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned the pause would final “till additional steerage is issued”.

The message mentioned social media vetting could be stepped up for scholar and overseas alternate visas, which might have “vital implications” for embassies and consulates.

It comes amid Trump’s feud with a few of America’s most elite faculties, which he believes are too left-wing. He says a few of them have enabled antisemitism on campus and uphold discriminatory admissions insurance policies.

The state division memo, considered by the BBC’s US companion CBS News, directed US embassies on Tuesday to take away any unfilled appointments from their calendars for college students searching for visas, however mentioned these with appointments already scheduled might go forward.

The diplomatic cable additionally mentioned the state division was getting ready for an “enlargement of required social media screening and vetting” relevant to all scholar visa purposes.

Foreign college students who need to research within the US are often required to schedule interviews at an American embassy of their residence nation earlier than approval.

Many establishments depend on overseas college students for a big chunk of their funding, as they typically pay greater tuition charges.

When requested about scholar visas, state division spokesperson Tammy Bruce instructed reporters on Tuesday: “We take very severely the method of vetting who it’s that comes into the nation, and we will proceed to do this.”

The Trump administration has frozen tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in funding for universities and moved to deport college students, whereas revoking hundreds of visas for others. Many of those actions have been blocked by the courts.

The White House has accused some US universities of permitting pro-Palestinian activism on campus to be hijacked by antisemitism.

Colleges have accused the Trump administration of attempting to infringe upon free speech rights.

Harvard University has been the focus of President Donald Trump’s ire. Last week, the Trump administration revoked Harvard’s means to enrol worldwide college students or host overseas researchers. A federal decide blocked the coverage.

If the measure is allowed, it might ship a devastating blow to the college, the place greater than 1 / 4 of scholars are overseas.