US restarting foreign student visas, demands social media access

The Department of State announced Wednesday the U.S. will be restarting interviews and processing foreign student visas but now will be asking applicants to make their social media public for vetting, with potential denial if they refuse.

The State Department added it would look for those “who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the same phrase it has applied to pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses.

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission,” the announcement states. 

A person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press said consulates were told to prioritize students going to colleges where foreign students make up less than 15 percent of the student body.  

An analysis from the outlet found 200 U.S. colleges and universities have more than 15 percent foreign students, mostly private schools and all eight of the Ivy Leagues. 

The announcement comes as a sigh of relief to students who have been accepted to U.S. schools and need to pay their tuition and register for housing.  

But it also escalates the battle begun under President Trump, with foreign students arrested, visas pulled and Harvard University told it could no longer admit international students.  

Harvard, which has been targeted by Trump on multiple fronts, has sued over that decision and, so far, has won temporary injunctions halting the administration’s effort.   

The chaos has led some foreign students to leave on their own and to universities from other countries trying to fill in the gap and recruit more scholars who might have gone to the U.S. 

The administration has detained numerous pro-Palestinian students and faculty, arguing they are a threat to the country’s national security. None of those detained for this reason are known to have been deported, but several cases are still working their way through the courts.