Trump administration pauses student visa applications
The US State Department has temporarily halted the processing of student and exchange visas for international applicants, according to an internal directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The cable, which instructs US embassies and consulates to pause all new student and exchange visa appointments, indicates that additional guidance will follow. It also notes that the department intends to expand social media vetting for these visa categories — a move likely to further delay and scrutinize applicants.
This visa freeze marks another significant setback for foreign nationals pursuing higher education in the US, amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration on both students and universities.
The decision comes on the heels of the administration’s recent attempt to strip Harvard University of its authorization to enroll international students — a move tied to the school’s response to pro-Palestinian protests and its diversity programming. A federal judge has since intervened, temporarily blocking the action.
Secretary Rubio has also pushed for the revocation of hundreds of student visas, pointing to minor legal issues or past support for Palestinian rights as justification.
Speaking at a press briefing Tuesday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce did not confirm the contents of Rubio’s directive but emphasized the importance of screening individuals entering the country.
“We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country,” Bruce said. “It’s a goal, as stated by the president and Secretary Rubio, to make sure that people who are here understand what the law is, that they don’t have any criminal intent, that they are going to be contributors to the experience here, however short or long their status.”
She added that visa applicants should continue their applications as normal but prepare for greater scrutiny.
“If you’re going to be applying for a visa, follow the normal process, the normal steps, [and] expect to be looked at,” she said.
The State Department has not provided a timeline for when the suspension might be lifted, though diplomatic staff were told to expect more guidance in the coming days.
- Legal and political backlash grows -
The administration’s continued targeting of international students has reignited concerns about academic freedom and constitutional protections for those living in the US on non-immigrant visas.
Just last week, Rubio told senators that “thousands” of student visas have been rescinded since President Trump took office, although no comprehensive data has been made public. Many of these actions have been taken under a little-known provision that the administration argues grants them authority to deny entry or residency based on perceived conflicts with US foreign policy.
Civil rights attorneys representing affected students — including Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Badar Khan Suri — argue that the government is punishing individuals for expressing their political views, particularly those in support of Palestinian rights.
Harvard officials, for their part, have accused the federal government of overreach and retaliation. They claim the university’s rights are being violated by the cutting of funds and restrictions on enrolling foreign students.
Reports on Tuesday suggested that the Trump administration is also preparing to cancel the remaining federal contracts with Harvard, signaling further escalation in the ongoing standoff between the White House and one of the nation’s leading academic institutions.
