Politico, a U.S. political media outlet, reported that the U.S. government is considering making it mandatory to review social networking services (SNS) for foreigners who want to study in the U.S.
Politico said on Wednesday that it obtained the full text signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to the full text, the U.S. administration ordered U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to temporarily suspend new interviews for international visa applicants.
“In preparation for the expansion of social media screening, the Ministry of Consular Affairs should not hold new visa interviews for students or exchange visitors (F, M, J) until further guidelines are issued,” the full text says. However, previously scheduled interviews will continue as they are.
In the wake of the recent anti-Semitic protests in U.S. universities, the second Trump administration has censored social networking sites for foreign students who participated in the protests. The move is aimed at expanding this measure and going through SNS screening before issuing visas to study abroad.
“If the plan is implemented, it will seriously delay the processing of visas for international students and hurt many universities that rely heavily on foreign students to secure finances,” the media said. The Association of International Educators (NAFSA), an organization on international students, criticized the move, saying, “Students are not a threat to this country. Rather, it is a huge asset.”
SAM KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
