WASHINGTON D.C. – In another stroke of shock, the Trump administration has now ordered a nationwide halt on the scheduling of new appointments for student and exchange visitor visas, a significant move that comes as the State Department prepares to implement broader social media vetting of foreign students.
Trump has been trying to stop the influx of students in the US from other countries in order to control immigration.
There has been several demonstrations and protests in various US universities and colleges, mostly related to Israel Palestine Conflict.
Several media outlets have reported that the Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued the directive, advising U.S. missions abroad to cease scheduling new F, M, and J visa appointments. This is a fierce move from the Rubio.
There is no confirmation how long it will last and seems temporary.
This pause is in anticipation of updated guidance on enhanced social media screening for all student and exchange visitor applicants. While appointments already scheduled will proceed under current guidelines, any available slots not yet taken are to be removed.
The administration’s decision is part of its wider, stringent immigration policy which he propagated before elections and kept his word after it.
It has seen increased efforts to pump up deportations and revoke the visas of foreign students.
However, if you look at the past happenings you will able be to see that what is happening is nothing but follow up of previous actions, including scrutiny of the process which Harvard employed to enroll the University’s international student, which resultant would undermine its financial stability. These actions have faced legal challenges when Supreme court intervened.
There is an ongoing tussle between Trump Administration and the Supreme court as well. Most of Trump’s order, most related to illegal immigrants are put an stop by the courts recently irritating the current government.
The enhanced social media vetting will need changes to how consulates work, how they do things, and how they use their resources.
Missions should think about how much effort each case will require before scheduling.
Tammy Bruce, a representative for the State Department, did not talk on the cable explicitly, but she did say that the U.S. will use “every tool” to check out anybody who want to enter the country.
There is stern opposition to such activities which says that these steps are an infringement on the free speech right which is specially mentioned and provided in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
In the wake of recent events, like the putting a student in detention from Tufts University for weeks because of an op-ed piece which criticized Israel-Palestine War from the perspective of Palestine, shows that people are worried.
This act of Trump can also lead to big complications for U.S. colleges, Universities and institutions, many of which are dependent on international students for lots of funding for the running of it.
It is obvious that the possibility of delay in visa acquisition because of social media screening could frighten people from other countries mostly from India, who want to apply, which would definitely hurt the financial health and global reputation of American schools.
