NAIROBI, Kenya – The Trump administration has ordered all U.S. embassies to halt scheduling new student visa appointments as it prepares to implement tougher social media screening for international students.
According to a diplomatic cable seen by CBS News, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed embassies that the halt would remain in place “until further guidance is issued.” The move affects both student and foreign exchange visa applicants.
The directive, which came down Tuesday, instructs embassies to cancel any unfilled student visa slots, although already scheduled interviews may proceed.
This sudden shift comes as former President Donald Trump intensifies his criticism of elite U.S. universities, accusing them of promoting left-wing ideology and enabling antisemitism—especially in light of recent pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Harvard University, in particular, has become a target of Trump’s growing ire.
Trump’s administration has already revoked Harvard’s authority to admit foreign students and host international researchers—a decision blocked by a federal judge. If upheld, the move could cripple the Ivy League institution, where over 25% of the student body is international.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce defended the pause, saying, “We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
The White House has also frozen hundreds of millions in university funding, tried to deport foreign students, and revoked thousands of visas—though many of these efforts have been challenged or stopped by courts.
Colleges have pushed back, accusing Trump of attempting to silence dissent and undermine free speech under the guise of national security.
With many U.S. institutions depending heavily on foreign student tuition, the new policy could deliver a major financial and academic blow—particularly if the proposed vetting expansion becomes permanent.
