Trump administration imposes restrictions on foreign students entering the US
The Trump administration has introduced new measures that effectively restrict foreign students’ entry into the United States. The Department of State has instructed US embassies worldwide to temporarily suspend student visa interviews until new guidelines are provided. This decision follows plans to scrutinize the social media accounts of foreign students who apply for student visas (F, M, J visas).
According to Bloomberg, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered an immediate halt to new student visa interview appointments. This measure aims to prepare for enhanced examinations of social media accounts belonging to foreign students. Interviews that have already been scheduled will proceed, but all new appointments are on hold.
In a cable sent to diplomats, Secretary Rubio instructed not to assign additional student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visa interviews until new guidelines are issued, emphasizing the expansion of social media examination requirements.
The F visa is the typical student visa for those attending colleges or higher education institutions in the United States. The M visa is for students participating in vocational or technical programs, and the J visa covers exchange visitors, including researchers, teachers, and short-term trainees.
This policy comes amid growing tensions between the Trump administration and US universities over accusations of anti-Semitism, which have expanded to affect the entire higher education sector. Previously, the administration’s attempt to block foreign students’ enrollment at Harvard University was halted by a federal court.
The suspension or delay of student visa issuance will directly impact hundreds of thousands of students globally and numerous US educational institutions that recruit them. According to the Department of State, international students represent 5.9% of all higher education enrollments, numbering over 1.1 million as of the 2023-2024 academic year, with India sending the most students, followed by China. The Open Doors report, sponsored by the Department of State, identifies New York University, Northeastern University, and Columbia University as the top institutions hosting the most international students.
A significant number of these students major in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), with approximately 25% studying mathematics and computer science and about 20% pursuing engineering.
Secretary Rubio had signaled the introduction of these restrictions in March, citing an incident involving a Tufts University PhD student, Rümeysa Öztürk, who was arrested and released on bail after co-authoring a pro-Gaza column.
Rubio warned that visas would not be issued to individuals whose intentions are not solely educational but instead seek to incite unrest, occupy buildings, and harass other students on US campuses.