28-05-2025
US orders pause on new visa interviews for foreign students
The move was assailed by Rob McCarron, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.
'It's another example of the Trump administration using chaos and uncertainty to punitively target the 80,000 international students who choose to study in Massachusetts because of our world-renowned reputation in higher education,' McCarron said.
'Our vitality rests squarely on the innovation, education, and research taking place across our campuses every day. Today's developments will make it more difficult for those students to study here and will only serve to undermine the unique competitive advantage of the United States.'
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As part of rapidly evolving policy on foreign students, the order followed
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In its lawsuit Friday morning, Harvard said the revocation would have 'immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders,' or about one-quarter of the student body.
The Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, said the administration was punishing Harvard for its refusal to turn over a trove of documentation about foreign students the White House demanded last month.
The administration has alleged that its concerns center on antisemitism on campus, but opponents argue Trump's target actually is the academic culture of the country's elite universities.
Several foreign students, including Tufts University graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk, have been detained for pro-Palestinian activities. Öztürk, who was arrested in March outside her residence in Somerville, had written an op-ed for the Tufts student newspaper that criticized the university's stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
A federal judge in Vermont
The sudden pause in visa interviews 'is deeply disappointing, but not surprising,' said Fanta Aw, chief executive of NAFSA. 'What is most disappointing is that international students are seen as potential threats — threats to national security.'
In Aw's view, Trump is sending a clear and chilling message to foreign students and their families.
'This is about their life. This is about their studies,' Aw said. 'This is government action that signals you're not welcome. Why would students put themselves through this?'
The halt in interviews will continue until the State Department establishes new criteria for checking an applicant's social media history, the government said. New guidance is expected soon, according to the cable, which was
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'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,' Rubio wrote.
The order affects students seeking F visas, scholars and exchange visitors on J visas, and students who use M visas for vocational training.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce defended the visa-screening process at a news briefing Tuesday.
'We take very seriously the process of vetting, who it is that comes into the country,' Bruce said. 'And we're going to continue to do that. We're going to continue to vet.'
Harvard officials did not respond to a Boston Globe request for comment.
In addition to revoking Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, the Trump administration is seeking to void all federal contracts with the university, totaling about $100 million, and considering diverting $3 billion in Harvard grants to trade schools.
Officials at Northeastern University, which enrolls more than 20,000 foreign students, said they are gauging the effect of the State Department's order to stop scheduling new visa appointments for student and exchange applicants.
'This is a very dynamic situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments in real time to assess any potential impacts,' Renata Nyul, vice president of communications at NU, said Tuesday.
'We have a robust set of resources for our incoming and current international students, as well as contingency plans for those who might experience delays in visa processing,' Nyul added.
Aw said a delay of even a few days until visa interviews can be scheduled can make or break the ability of some applicants to file on time, particularly if they come from countries where the US Embassy is short on staffing.
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'In some cases, the point of no return has already passed,' Aw said. 'The message that this sends is one that is not lost on students and their families.'
Brian MacQuarrie can be reached at
