All student visa processing halted, Trump admin weighs social media vetting

[Demovictory9]

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/trump-team-orders-stop-to-new-student-visa-interviews-as-it-weighs-expanding-social-media-vetting-00370501

The Trump administration is weighing requiring all foreign students applying to study in the United States to undergo social media vetting — a significant expansion of previous such efforts, according to a cable obtained by POLITICO.

In preparation for such required vetting, the administration is ordering U.S. embassies and consular sections to pause scheduling new interviews for such student visa applicants, according to the cable, dated Tuesday and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.


If the administration carries out the plan, it could severely slow down student visa processing. It also could hurt many universities who rely heavily on foreign students to boost their financial coffers.

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel, which we anticipate in the coming days,” the cable states. (“Septel” is State Department shorthand for “separate telegram.”)

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Think pure thoughts.

And don't post anything.

[spanone]

2. Dear world, you may want to reconsider coming here...no kidding.

[PittBlue]

3. WTF?

Why? Bastards.

[Diraven]

4. This will decimate US universities

Most major universities have a high percentage of foreign students, who usually pay full tuition. If this social media vetting will slow student visa applications to a trickle. Also it's safe to assume that any students found being critical of Trump, the US government, or Israel will be denied visas outright. This will drive university enrollments way down, likely leading to mass layoffs and some schools will prove forced to close. And this situation will likely be permanent, as foreign students will likely be vary wary of applying to US schools in the future even after Trump is gone just because of the possibility of having their education cut short and getting deported on a political whim.

[Prairie Gates]

5. The Free Speech Absolutists will vet your statements

If you think it will stop at international students, well...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. Trump wants to stick his nose in everyone's business