Politico: Washington plans to check social media of students applying to study in the US

Politico commented that if Washington carries out the above plan, the student visa processing process could be seriously slowed down.

The Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachussetts - Photo: AFP

According to Politico on May 27, the administration of US President Donald Trump is considering requiring all foreign students applying to study in the US to undergo a social media check.

According to a cable dated May 27 and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in preparation for the social media audit of these students, the Trump administration has asked US embassies and consulates to temporarily suspend scheduling new interviews for student visa applications.

Politico said that if Washington were to proceed with the plan, it could severely slow down the processing of student visas. This could also hurt many universities that rely on international students to boost their financial resources.

"Effective immediately, in preparation for the expansion of mandatory social media screening and verification, consular sections should not add any student or exchange (F, M, and J) visas until further guidance is provided, which we anticipate will be available in the next few days," Politico revealed in the memo.

Washington has also recently imposed some social media screening requirements on students, but the requirements at the time were aimed only at students who may have participated in protests against Israel's actions in Gaza.

The memo did not directly specify what the upcoming social media filters would be, but alluded to executive orders aimed at preventing terrorism and anti-Semitism.

NGHI VU

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/politico-washington-len-ke-hoach-kiem-tra-network-xa-hoi-cua-sinh-vien-nop-don-hoc-tai-my-20250528003547122.htm