Trump administration intensifies scrutiny on foreign students and top universities, sparking constitutional concerns.
The Trump administration has ordered a pause in all student visa processing while preparing to roll out expanded social media checks on applicants, according to a leaked State Department cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The memo, reported by US media on Tuesday, instructed embassies and consulates worldwide to halt “any additional student or exchange visa… appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.” It signaled that the State Department would soon implement new protocols for reviewing applicants’ social media activities.
The move marks the latest escalation in a growing campaign by the Trump administration targeting foreign students and top US universities.
Last week, the administration revoked Harvard University’s approval to enroll international students, amid clashes over the school’s handling of pro-Palestine protests and its diversity programs. A federal judge has temporarily blocked that decision.
Rubio, a key figure in Trump’s foreign policy team, has also sought to rescind hundreds of student visas, citing minor legal infractions or political speech, particularly pro-Palestine advocacy.
Speaking Tuesday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the US takes vetting applicants seriously and emphasized the administration’s goal of ensuring visitors abide by US laws and contribute positively.
“If you’re going to be applying for a visa, follow the normal process, the normal steps, [and] expect to be looked at,” Bruce told reporters. She did not provide a timeline for when the processing pause would be lifted.
The administration’s latest moves have raised sharp legal questions about academic freedom and the constitutional rights of students and universities.
Rubio told the Senate last week that thousands of visas had been revoked since Trump took office, though a full public accounting has yet to be released. His office has cited an obscure legal provision that the administration claims allows broad authority to expel foreigners deemed counter to US foreign policy interests.
Lawyers representing students affected by these actions — including Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Badar Khan Suri — argue that their clients’ freedom of speech is under attack.
Harvard, too, has pushed back, accusing the administration of violating its institutional rights by cutting funding and blocking foreign student enrollment. US media reported Tuesday that the administration is preparing to sever remaining federal contracts with Harvard, in what would mark a dramatic escalation of the standoff.
Observers warn that the administration’s stance risks damaging America’s longstanding role as a global hub for higher education and innovation — and could chill the open exchange of ideas that underpins its universities.
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