US halts student Visa processing amid Trump's social media scrutiny
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The Trump administration has suspended student visa processing and intensified social media screening, targeting international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism across US campuses.
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President Donald Trump listens during the 157th National Memorial Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Arlington, Va, US. (AP)
The US State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, has ordered a temporary halt to student visa processing as the Trump administration intensifies social media screening for applicants, according to an internal cable.
According to the AFP-reviewed cable, embassies and consulates are instructed to refrain from scheduling any additional student or exchange visa appointments until receiving further directives.
The Trump administration is moving forward with a new visa policy mandating social media screening for all foreign student applicants, according to a Politico report earlier today that cited an internal State Department cable.
This action coincides with a broader suppression of pro-Palestinian activism on US campuses, focusing scrutiny on international students' political views and their involvement in protests against "Israel's" military actions in Gaza.
Trump cracks down on pro-Palestine protesters
The administration's heightened vetting of international students aligns with a nationwide crackdown on pro-Palestine campus demonstrations, including the Department of Homeland Security's unprecedented revocation of Harvard University's foreign student program authorization for 2025-2026 over alleged protest-related violations.
The directive impacted approximately 7,000 students while requiring currently enrolled international students to transfer institutions, though a Massachusetts federal court later issued a temporary injunction against the ban after legal challenges.
The Trump administration has revoked visas for numerous students at UCLA, Berkeley, Stanford, and Columbia University as part of its intensified campaign against pro-Palestine campus activism.
In an April 7 statement, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk confirmed that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program had revoked visas for six current and former students participating in a professional training program.
Columbia University has suspended over 65 students following a May 10 pro-Palestinian demonstration in Butler Library, the institution's main academic building, where university officials reported 80 arrests by Friday and placed the participants under interim suspension pending further investigations.
