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 broaden social media vetting of such candidates.

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

The message stated social media vetting can 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, seen by the BBC’s US associate CBS Information, directed US embassies on Tuesday to take away any unfilled appointments from their calendars for college kids searching for visas, however stated these with appointments already scheduled may go forward.

The diplomatic cable additionally stated the state division was making ready for an “growth of required social media screening and vetting” relevant to all scholar visa functions. It doesn’t spell out what the vetting would search for.

International college students who wish to research within the US are normally required to schedule interviews at an American embassy of their dwelling nation earlier than approval.

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

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

The Trump administration has frozen lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} in funding for universities and moved to deport college students, whereas revoking 1000’s of visas for others. Many of those actions have been blocked by the courts.

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

Schools have accused the Trump administration of making an attempt to infringe upon free speech rights.

Harvard College has been the point of interest of President Donald Trump’s ire. Final week, the Trump administration revoked Harvard’s capacity to enrol worldwide college students or host overseas researchers. A federal choose blocked the coverage.

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