The State Department announced Wednesday that it is resuming student visa processing with a new condition: applicants must make their social media accounts public for review. Failure to comply could result in denial of a visa.
Under guidance from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, consular officers will now examine social media activity for signs of “hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.” The goal, the department says, is to ensure more comprehensive vetting for student and exchange visitor applicants.
A cable obtained by Politico outlines that consular officers are instructed to flag applicants who have shown support for foreign terrorist groups, such as Hamas, or engaged in antisemitic activity. Political activism abroad is also under scrutiny. Officers are told to consider “the likelihood they would continue such activity in the United States.”
This follows a May directive by Rubio halting visa interviews while the administration reviewed its vetting policies. Critics argue the new rules could suppress free expression and target individuals based on political beliefs.
The Biden-era system had allowed for limited social media checks but did not require public account access. The Trump administration’s policy now mandates full visibility of applicants’ digital presence before entry into the U.S. is granted.
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