Key Highlights:
- US embassies and consulates have been directed to stop scheduling new student visa interviews, according to a State Department cable obtained by Politico.
- This move affects F, M, and J visa categories, covering students and exchange visitors.
- The directive comes ahead of an expansion in social media screening and vetting, which the Trump administration says is part of counterterrorism and antisemitism efforts.
🧾 What’s in the Cable?
The internal directive reads:
“Consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel…”
(“Septel” refers to a separate telegram in State Department language.)
While the cable doesn’t define what online activity will be scrutinized, it references executive orders related to antisemitism and national security. Social media content—such as participation in pro-Palestinian protests or displaying Palestinian flags online—may come under review, though officials admit the criteria remain vague.
🎓 Harvard University Targeted Again
- The Trump administration barred Harvard from enrolling international students, accusing it of noncompliance with ideological directives linked to protest management and antisemitism on campus.
- Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit, calling the move “unlawful retaliation” and an infringement on academic freedom.
- A federal judge has temporarily blocked the ban after Harvard sought urgent relief.
Harvard’s legal filing states:
“The revocation of SEVP certification is clear retaliation for Harvard’s refusal to submit to the government’s ideologically rooted policy demands.”
📣 Wider Implications
- The visa freeze may affect thousands of international students preparing for the Fall 2025 intake.
- State Department officials have expressed concern over unclear and politically motivated guidelines, particularly around campus protest activity.
- The move aligns with the Trump administration’s escalating scrutiny of immigration, education institutions, and dissenting speech on campuses.
🇺🇸 What’s Next?
- Further guidance is expected from the State Department in the coming days.
- Legal battles are likely to continue, particularly as universities challenge the ideological basis of the restrictions.
- International students and scholars are advised to defer travel or seek legal counsel as uncertainty looms.