Trump administration: international students will face strict social media review [View all]
Source: USA Today
Updated June 18, 2025 6:04 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON — International students applying for visas to study in the United States will be subjected to stricter social media screening moving forward, the Trump administration says. Their entire online presence will be reviewed, including their social media media activity, during the visa application process for indications of hostility toward the country’s citizens, culture, government, institutions and democratic principles.
The State Department announced the policy on June 18, following the release of leaked guidance in May that signaled the changes were coming. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told embassies then about the enhanced social media vetting protocols, as he halted new student visa application interviews.
The added screening initially affected students who applied to Harvard, which the administration has been fighting with over allegations of antisemitism. But in a message outlining the new screening measures that was obtained by multiple outlets in late May, Rubio said the review process was intended serve as a pilot program.
At the time, the State Department told USA TODAY it had required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers since 2019 and that it continuously vets all visa holders for the duration of their stay. In a statement announcing the resumption of student visa interviews and the new online screening policy on June 18, the State Department said that under new guidance, consular officers will be conducting a comprehensive and thorough vetting of all student and exchange visitor applicants.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/06/18/trump-foreign-students-social-media-screening/84265740007/
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