US freezes new student visa appointments for foreign students to allow time for social media vetting

The Trump administration has directed U.S. embassies and consulates to stop scheduling new visa appointments for student and exchange visitors, according to an internal cable obtained by Reuters.

This pause comes as the State Department prepares to enhance social media vetting for foreign students.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the cable, indicated that updated guidance will be issued following a review of the vetting process. Until then, consular offices are instructed not to schedule new appointments, although existing ones may proceed under current procedures.

This decision aligns with the administration's broader immigration agenda, which includes increased deportations and visa revocations.

On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters—including students and faculty from Harvard University—rallied in support of international students and against the administration’s attempt to cut federal funding to the university.

First reported by Politico, the cable states: “The Department is conducting a review of operations and processes for screening and vetting student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants. Based on this review, guidance will be issued on expanded social media vetting.”

A senior State Department official verified the cable’s contents. While spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment specifically, she reiterated the U.S. commitment to thoroughly vet all entrants: “We will use every tool available to assess who is coming into the country, whether they are students or not.”

The expanded vetting will require consular posts to adjust their processes and resource allocation. The cable instructs them to evaluate workload and resource needs before scheduling new appointments and to prioritize services for U.S. citizens, immigrant visas, and fraud prevention.

Critics argue the administration is targeting student visa and green card holders for their pro-Palestinian views and criticism of Israel, labeling these expressions as threats to U.S. foreign policy and associating them with Hamas sympathies—claims the administration’s opponents say infringe on free speech rights protected by the First Amendment.

One such case involved a Tufts University student from Turkey who was detained for over six weeks in Louisiana after co-authoring an op-ed criticizing her school’s response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. A federal judge later granted her bail.

Recently, the administration moved to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. These students, roughly 6,800 in number, represent about 27% of the university’s population. The move is seen as part of a broader effort to destabilize the institution following its resistance to federal policy demands.