US Halts Student Visas, Plans Expanded Social Media Checks in Latest Crackdown on Foreign Students

In a move sending shockwaves through international education circles, the Trump administration has temporarily paused all student visa processing, with plans to ramp up social media vetting for foreign applicants, according to an internal State Department memo leaked this week.

The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, directs U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to suspend student and exchange visa appointments until further notice. The decision marks a significant escalation in Trump’s crackdown on international students and academic institutions, especially those caught in the political crossfire over Palestine.

Harvard in the Crosshairs

The timing of the visa freeze coincides with Harvard University’s clash with the Trump administration over pro-Palestinian protests and diversity programs. Just days ago, the university had its approval to enrol international students revoked by the State Department—an action now temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

Harvard University isn’t alone. Marco Rubio has revoked thousands of student visas since January 2025, invoking an obscure statute that allows visa denials based on undefined threats to U.S. foreign policy. Advocacy groups and legal experts warn that the law is being used to target Muslim and pro-Palestinian students, raising serious concerns about freedom of speech and academic freedom.

Your Social Media Is Now a Visa Risk

The most controversial part of Rubio’s plan is the plan to expand social media vetting for all foreign student visa applicants. While the U.S. already screens applicants’ online activity, the memo suggests a more aggressive policy is imminent.

“We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country,” said U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “If you’re going to be applying for a visa… expect to be looked at.”

Critics argue that this is not just about security, but about creating a climate of intimidation and political surveillance. Lawyers for students such as Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Badar Khan Suri—all reportedly targeted for pro-Palestine views—say the administration is trampling their constitutional rights.

Political Weaponisation of Education?

This sweeping policy shift comes amid broader efforts to defund and disempower elite U.S. universities, many of which have become lightning rods in America’s increasingly polarised political landscape. U.S. media reported that remaining federal contracts with Harvard may soon be terminated, resulting in the loss of millions in research funding.

Rubio’s memo does not provide a timeline for resuming visa processing, leaving thousands of international students in limbo just months before the start of the academic year.

Global Implications

The visa pause, coupled with the looming social media overhaul, is likely to discourage students worldwide from applying to U.S. universities, dealing a blow to one of America’s most powerful soft power tools—its global education system.

As the world watches, critics say the administration’s actions are turning campuses into battlefields, where free speech, diversity, and diplomacy are all at risk.