U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered a suspension of student and exchange visa processing as the Trump administration intensifies scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity, according to an internal cable obtained by AFP.
The directive, which Rubio signed and circulated to U.S. embassies and consulates, instructs officials to halt new student and exchange visa appointments until further notice. The State Department is expected to issue updated guidance on expanded social media vetting “in the coming days.”
This move marks the latest in a series of actions targeting international students—a key revenue source for U.S. universities. It follows Rubio’s revocation of hundreds of visas and a Trump administration decision to bar Harvard University from admitting foreign nationals.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment on the cable directly but said vetting is a serious priority. “The goal is to ensure those entering the U.S. understand and follow the law and are here for the right reasons,” she said.
Asked whether students could expect visas before fall classes begin, Bruce said only: “Follow the normal process and expect to be thoroughly reviewed.”
Rubio recently told the Senate he has revoked “thousands” of visas since January, using a little-known law that allows the Secretary of State to bar foreigners deemed contrary to U.S. interests. Many of those affected have been student activists involved in pro-Gaza protests—whom the administration accuses of anti-Semitism, an allegation some deny.
