Trump administration freezes all new student visas - including Brit's

Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a cable to freeze student visa applications (Image: AP)

The Trump era clampdown strikes again as all fresh student visa applications hit a freeze amidst plans to include stringent social media checks for every applicant, casting a shadow of concern over colleges and the economy.

In a cable penned by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, obtained by Politico, it was revealed that the White House intends to beef up social media scrutiny in their vetting procedures. Immigration authorities have long peeked at applicants' online personas, yet the recent stipulations under Rubio's directive remain vague on how they might escalate beyond past measures.

Nonetheless, profiles could be subject to intense scanning for terms deemed 'anti-American'.

"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," reads the cable that caught Politico's attention.

Experts like Aaron Reichlin-Melnick from the American Immigration Council are up in arms, citing fears of profound economic loss. "Trump's decision to suspend student visa interviews threatens nearly $44 billion in economic contributions and over 370,000 jobs across the United States, according to NAFSA. If the United States stops taking foreign students, the economic impact would be catastrophic.", reports the Express US.

Any visa applicants should know that their activity will be screened by USCIS (Image: Getty Images)

The fluctuation in student visas granted by the U.S. sees a downturn with last year's figures dipping below those of its predecessor, questioning the future of cultural exchange revenue streams.

Immigration officials have previously utilised social media to confirm identities, monitor for criminal activity, gather supporting evidence, or detect fraud.

Those applying for student visas, and indeed any visas, should be mindful of what is publicly accessible on their social media. Although the government still requires a court order to access a private account, elements such as comments on posts remain public - even if your account isn't.

Immigration officials utilise social media to verify the legitimacy of marriages or search for incriminating evidence or fraud, like evidence that may contradict a pending case. For instance, failing to disclose membership of a political group by a visa applicant is illegal, so USCIS would often monitor for contradictions.

The rationale for checking social media typically varies on a case by case basis, according to immigration experts.

Some view this as Trump's escalating conflict with Ivy League institutions, including Harvard, following the administration's revocation of Harvard University's ability to enrol international students, stating thousands of current students must transfer to other schools or leave the country.

The Department of Homeland Security last week accused Harvard University of creating an unsafe campus environment by allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to target Jewish students. The department also alleged that the university has been collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party, claiming it hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.

"This means Harvard can no longer enrol foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status," the agency declared in a statement.

Harvard, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, currently has nearly 6,800 international students on its campus, making up over a quarter of its student body. These students hail from more than 100 countries, with the majority being postgraduate students.

In a further escalation of tensions, the Trump administration on Tuesday urged federal agencies to terminate contracts with Harvard University worth approximately $100 million. This move intensifies the ongoing conflict between the President and the nation's oldest and wealthiest university.

The government has already withdrawn more than $2.6 billion in federal research grants for the Ivy League institution, which has resisted the administration's demands for policy changes.