Marco Rubio orders global pause on student visa interviews amid US social media vetting plan

The Trump administration escalates its crackdown on Harvard by halting new international student visa interviews worldwide, signaling a major expansion of social media screening that could disrupt thousands of students and financially impact US universities. This move follows the cancellation of $100 million in Harvard's federal contracts and the withdrawal of its authorization to enroll foreign students.

Sources:
BBCThe Indian ExpressAxios+8
Updated 2h ago
Section 1 background
The Headline

Rubio halts student visa interviews amid social media vetting plan

<b>without international students, which is a quarter of your student body, Harvard would not be Harvard</b>.
Harvard President Alan Garber
Npr
Key Facts
  • On May 22, the Trump administration withdrew Harvard University's authorization to enroll international students, impacting thousands including nearly 788 Indian students.22
  • Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued a restraining order on May 23 to prevent immediate and irreparable harm to Harvard from the enrollment ban.1
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered US embassies worldwide to pause scheduling new student visa interviews amid plans to expand social media vetting for all international student applicants.3Ndtv3
  • The planned social media vetting expansion would require all foreign students applying to study in the US to undergo social media screening, a significant increase from previous efforts.BBC33
  • If implemented, the social media vetting plan could severely slow down student visa processing and financially impact universities relying on foreign students.22
  • Interviews already scheduled before Rubio's directive have been permitted to proceed despite the pause on new scheduling.Ndtv
Key Stats at a Glance
Number of Indian students affected by Harvard's enrollment authorization withdrawal
788 students
1
Date of restraining order issued to Harvard University
May 23
1

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Section 2 background
Background Context

Trump administration freezes $3.2B in Harvard funding, cites discrimination

I don't know fully what the motivations are, but I do know that there are people who are fighting a cultural battle.
Harvard President Alan Garber
Axios
<b>it is a warning</b>. They see this as a message that if you don't comply with what we're demanding, these will be the consequences.
Harvard President Alan Garber
Npr
Key Facts
  • The Trump administration froze approximately $3.2 billion in grants and contracts with Harvard University last month as part of escalating tensions.DeccanheraldBBC4+1
  • The administration accused Harvard of discrimination and antisemitism, citing failure to comply with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling banning race-based admissions.BBCThe Indian ExpressAxios+1
  • A draft letter from the General Services Administration outlined the cancellation of over $2.6 billion in research grants to Harvard.Timesofindia
  • The administration planned to cancel all remaining federal contracts with Harvard worth about $100 million, instructing agencies to find alternative vendors.The Indian ExpressBBCAxios+1
  • Harvard responded with legal action, claiming the administration is trying to control its operations and admissions policies.The Indian Express
Key Stats at a Glance
Amount of grants and contracts frozen by the Trump administration for Harvard University
$3.2 billion
Deccanherald
Amount of research grants cancelled to Harvard University
$2.6 billion
Timesofindia
Value of remaining federal contracts with Harvard University planned for cancellation
$100 million
Number of contracts under review with Harvard University
30 contracts
BBC
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