WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies and consulates to halt new student and exchange visitor visa appointments, citing an upcoming overhaul of the vetting process that will expand scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity, according to an internal cable obtained by Reuters.
The directive, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructs all U.S. missions abroad to pause the scheduling of visa interviews for F, M, and J visa categories, which include academic students, vocational students, and exchange visitors. The cable states that updated guidance will follow the State Department’s review of screening protocols and emphasizes an intention to intensify social media surveillance as part of immigration enforcement.
Appointments already on the books can proceed under existing guidelines, the cable says, but any open time slots that have not been booked should be withdrawn.
“The Department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor visa applicants,” the cable reads. “Based on that review, the Department plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants.”
The development underscores a sharp escalation in the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration, which has increasingly targeted students and scholars perceived to be sympathetic to Palestinians or critical of U.S. support for Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment directly on the leaked cable but defended the administration’s approach. “We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise,” Bruce said at a news briefing.
The planned expansion of social media screening is expected to require significant changes to embassy operations and resource allocations, according to the cable. It also directs U.S. missions to prioritize consular services for American citizens, immigrant visa applicants, and fraud prevention efforts during the pause.
Administration officials have drawn criticism for recent moves to revoke student visas and deport international students, citing their online posts or public support for Palestinian causes. Critics argue that the actions violate free speech rights protected by the First Amendment and reflect a dangerous politicization of immigration enforcement.
In one case, a Turkish student at Tufts University spent over six weeks in immigration detention after co-authoring an op-ed critical of her school’s handling of the Gaza conflict. She was later released on bail following a federal judge’s intervention.
Just last week, the administration moved to block Harvard University from enrolling international students, affecting roughly 6,800 students—or 27% of Harvard’s enrollment—in a dramatic escalation of its efforts to pressure elite institutions resisting its political directives. Harvard has come under fire from the administration for opposing federal demands to revise its policies, which officials claim are too lenient on foreign nationals.
Trump’s critics view the administration’s actions as an attempt to undermine academic freedom and silence dissent, particularly on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
