The Trump administration is considering a sweeping policy to scrutinize the social media activity of all foreign students applying to study in the United States, according to Politico.
A cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, cited by Politico, outlines that consular sections should not expand visa processing for student categories (F, M, and J visas) until further instructions are issued in a follow-up telegram. The directive is said to take immediate effect.
The cable references executive orders related to combating terrorism and antisemitism, though it does not clarify what specific types of social media posts will trigger further scrutiny.
For example, officials privately questioned whether posting a Palestinian flag on X (formerly Twitter) might be enough to warrant additional screening.
If implemented, the plan could slow down visa processing significantly and impact U.S. universities that rely heavily on international students for tuition revenue.
The Trump administration had previously introduced social media vetting for foreign applicants, but this latest move would expand those efforts considerably—particularly targeting students suspected of involvement in anti-Israel protests related to the Gaza conflict.
