The Trump administration is ordering US embassies and consulates to suspend scheduling interviews for students seeking visas to attend classes in the United States.
Politico reports this, citing the document signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This would be a first step toward new regulations that, writes Politico, will also include an evaluation of aspiring candidates’ social media profiles.
The cable states: “Effective immediately, in preparation for the expansion of required social media screening and background checks, consular sections should not schedule any more appointments for student or exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J) until further guidance is issued, which we anticipate will occur in the coming days.” The text adds that already scheduled interviews can proceed.
The news comes just days after the Trump administration sent Harvard academic officials a letter, signed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, informing them that their authority to admit foreign students had been revoked.
The measure was interpreted as an escalation of the White House’s harassment of the oldest and wealthiest institution of higher education in the United States, which it accuses of inciting “anti-Semitism” and “terrorism” on its campus. To subdue the university, Washington officials had already frozen nearly $3.2 billion in federal funds and are threatening to rescind the university’s tax exemption.
On Friday, Harvard sued the government for what its lawyers call “retaliation,” and within hours, a federal judge ordered a temporary suspension of the measure, arguing that implementing it would cause “immediate and irreparable harm” to the university.
This Tuesday, Trump went a step further, ordering the termination of all contracts with the university by nine federal agencies. The financial blow to Harvard this time amounts to $100 million.
