US Resumes Student Visas, Adds Social Media Vetting

The United States — United States Department of State has restarted student visa processing after a temporary suspension, but with a new requirement: all applicants must make their social media accounts public for government review. Consular officers will scrutinize posts for any indications of hostility towards the United States, its government, culture, institutions, or founding principles. Refusal to comply may lead to visa rejection. This move by the Donald Trump administration follows previous actions to tighten immigration policies, including revoking student permissions and expanding grounds for status termination. The administration has also targeted Harvard University, suggesting a cap on foreign student enrollment, and called for 36 countries to improve traveler vetting or face travel bans. Critics, such as Jameel Jaffer of the Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump, argue the policy evokes Cold War-era ideological vetting and will suppress legitimate political speech.