The Trump administration has abruptly suspended the processing of student visas at embassies worldwide, marking a significant escalation in its efforts to tighten control over international enrollment in American universities.
This sudden freeze, linked to the rollout of new social media screening requirements, puts thousands of prospective students in limbo and intensifies an ongoing clash between federal authorities and higher education institutions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered consular staff not to schedule new appointments for F, M and J visa categories—covering students and exchange visitors—until further guidance arrives, the Daily Mail reports.
The directive reportedly states, “Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.”
International students have long been a cornerstone of American universities.
The Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report reveals that in the 2023-2024 academic year, the U.S. hosted a record 1.1 million foreign students, including approximately 10,000 from the UK.
These students contribute significantly to the economy, with NAFSA estimating their tuition and living expenses generate $43.8 billion annually.
This visa freeze ties into President Donald Trump’s broader campaign targeting higher education institutions.
He has repeatedly accused elite universities of harboring “woke” ideologies and antisemitism, focusing especially on Harvard University.
Recently, the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s authorization to enroll international students.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem issued a letter demanding that thousands of foreign students at Harvard either transfer to other institutions or leave the country.
The action is part of the administration’s escalating pressure on Ivy League schools.
Trump has publicly criticized Harvard for having 31 percent of its student body made up of foreign nationals.
On social media, he condemned the university’s slow response to requests for detailed foreign student data, writing, “Harvard is very slow in the presentation of these documents, and probably for good reason!”
Harvard responded by suing the administration, warning that the move will have a devastating impact on its community.
The university stated in court documents, “With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”
Alongside these actions, Resist the Mainstream previously reported that the administration has also frozen about $3.2 billion in federal grants and contracts awarded to Harvard.
Trump has threatened to reallocate up to $3 billion from Harvard to trade schools across the country, signaling a shift in funding priorities.
The General Services Administration plans to send out a letter to federal agencies advising them to seek alternative vendors instead of Harvard for future services.
Meanwhile, a federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama temporarily blocked the administration’s cancellation of Harvard’s student visa program.
Harvard claims the revocation violates constitutional protections, including the First Amendment and Due Process Clause, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act.
The government defended its actions by citing Harvard’s failure to provide behavioral records of its international visa holders, which it says justified terminating the program.
The Daily Mail notes that some of Trump’s closest advisers were themselves international students, such as senior advisor Boris Epshteyn.
Born in Russia, Epshteyn studied at Georgetown University, where he met Eric Trump and later helped assemble Trump’s legal defense teams.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over immigration policies, academic freedom and national security, raising questions about the future of foreign students in American higher education.
