The U.S. State Department has ordered a halt to all student and exchange visa processing, escalating the Trump administration’s sweeping campaign to control American universities and restrict international enrollment.
A directive signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed embassies and consulates worldwide to suspend new appointments for student visas until further notice. The cable, seen by AFP, also outlined plans to intensify vetting of international applicants’ social media activity.
The move comes amid growing backlash over the administration’s actions targeting foreign students—especially those linked to protests against the war in Gaza—and follows recent visa revocations and deportations. Harvard University, which faces severe funding cuts and mounting government oversight, has emerged as a focal point of the White House’s education offensive.
On Tuesday, Harvard students staged a protest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as the university prepared for its graduation ceremony. Demonstrators expressed fear and frustration over the administration’s policies, which threaten the status of nearly 27% of Harvard’s international student body.
“We’re watching the systematic dismantling of academic freedom and global education,” said protester Alice Goyer, dressed in graduation robes. “Our futures are being politicized.”
The White House defended the measures, saying taxpayer money should support vocational training rather than elite institutions it accuses of promoting liberal ideologies. “We need more plumbers, not more gender studies majors,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News.
Japan, Hong Kong, and China have all expressed concern, urging U.S. universities and the administration to protect the rights of international students. China’s foreign ministry called on Washington to uphold its obligations to students from abroad, particularly the hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals enrolled in U.S. programs.
Harvard has filed multiple lawsuits challenging the visa bans and loss of federal contracts—estimated at \$100 million. Legal experts expect the courts to intervene, calling the administration’s actions unprecedented and legally vulnerable.
Meanwhile, alumni advocacy group Crimson Courage has announced plans to file a separate lawsuit against Trump in early June. The university’s legal battle continues amid a wider political campaign targeting what Trump calls “liberal indoctrination” in higher education.
A directive signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed embassies and consulates worldwide to suspend new appointments for student visas until further notice. The cable, seen by AFP, also outlined plans to intensify vetting of international applicants’ social media activity.
The move comes amid growing backlash over the administration’s actions targeting foreign students—especially those linked to protests against the war in Gaza—and follows recent visa revocations and deportations. Harvard University, which faces severe funding cuts and mounting government oversight, has emerged as a focal point of the White House’s education offensive.
On Tuesday, Harvard students staged a protest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as the university prepared for its graduation ceremony. Demonstrators expressed fear and frustration over the administration’s policies, which threaten the status of nearly 27% of Harvard’s international student body.
“We’re watching the systematic dismantling of academic freedom and global education,” said protester Alice Goyer, dressed in graduation robes. “Our futures are being politicized.”
The White House defended the measures, saying taxpayer money should support vocational training rather than elite institutions it accuses of promoting liberal ideologies. “We need more plumbers, not more gender studies majors,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News.
Japan, Hong Kong, and China have all expressed concern, urging U.S. universities and the administration to protect the rights of international students. China’s foreign ministry called on Washington to uphold its obligations to students from abroad, particularly the hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals enrolled in U.S. programs.
Harvard has filed multiple lawsuits challenging the visa bans and loss of federal contracts—estimated at \$100 million. Legal experts expect the courts to intervene, calling the administration’s actions unprecedented and legally vulnerable.
Meanwhile, alumni advocacy group Crimson Courage has announced plans to file a separate lawsuit against Trump in early June. The university’s legal battle continues amid a wider political campaign targeting what Trump calls “liberal indoctrination” in higher education.
