Latest news with #Harvard-bound
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House targets Harvard again with social media screening of all foreign visitors to school
The Trump administration has ordered US consulates worldwide to conduct mandatory social media screening of every visa applicant seeking to travel to Harvard University, with officials instructed to view private accounts as potential signs of 'evasiveness'. A state department cable signed by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and dated Friday, obtained by the Guardian, requires immediate enhanced vetting of all Harvard-bound students, faculty, staff, speakers and other visitors as part of what officials describe as a pilot program that could expand to other universities. The policy takes effect immediately at all US embassies and consulates. The directive is an unprecedented targeting of a single American institution and the latest attempt to single out the US's oldest university over alleged failures to combat campus antisemitism. It also comes as the administration has attempted to freeze visa interviews for all foreign students nationwide. The cable was first reported by Politico. Related: 'My stomach just dropped': foreign students in panicked limbo as Trump cancels visa interviews Consular officers must now refuse Harvard visa applications until fraud prevention units complete 'comprehensive and thorough vetting' of applicants' entire online presence. Officials are also instructed to view private social media accounts or a limited online presence as potentially 'reflective of evasiveness' that calls into question the applicant's credibility. The cable explicitly links the enhanced screening to concerns that 'Harvard University failed to maintain a campus environment free from violence and antisemitism', citing information from the Department of Homeland Security. It aims to identify applicants with 'histories of antisemitic harassment and violence'. The state department did not respond to a request for comment. The policy builds on Trump's antisemitism executive order, which the president signed in January, describing the scenario as an 'unprecedented wave of vile antisemitic discrimination, vandalism and violence', linked to the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent lopsided war in Gaza with more than 50,000 killed. The measures significantly escalate existing screening that has primarily targeted students who participated in pro-Palestinian campus protests. Since March, state department officials have conducted mandatory social media reviews of returning students, taking screenshots of 'potentially derogatory' content for permanent records. Rubio told senators last week his department has revoked visas 'probably in the thousands at this point', up from more than 300 reported in March. The visa restrictions threaten to compound existing challenges facing higher education institutions already experiencing declining international enrollment. Related: Welsh student at Harvard fears Trump ban will stop him finishing his degree The Harvard directive comes as the Trump administration wages a broader confrontation with elite universities. The government has stripped Harvard of billions in research funding, entered dueling litigation with the Cambridge, Massachusetts, institution and briefly suspended its ability to enroll international students before a federal judge blocked the action. More than 1 million foreign students study in the US, contributing nearly $43.8bn to the economy and supporting over 378,000 jobs, according to Nafsa. The administration's expanded screening requirements could severely delay visa processing across the sector. The cable indicated the Harvard pilot 'will be expanded over time' and similar enhanced vetting could be applied to 'other groups of visa applicants as appropriate'.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
US govt investigating messages impersonating Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles
The government is investigating after elected officials, business executives, and other prominent figures in recent weeks received messages from someone impersonating Susie Wiles, President Donald Trump's chief of staff. A White House official confirmed the investigation Friday and said the White House takes cybersecurity of its staff seriously. The official was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that senators, governors, business leaders and others began receiving text messages and phone calls from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles' personal cellphone. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles' number, the newspaper reported. Also Read | Trump administration orders extra vetting of all Harvard-bound visa applicants Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles, which may have been generated by artificial intelligence, according to the report. Some received text messages that they initially thought were official White House requests, but some people reported the messages did not sound like Wiles. The FBI warned in a public service announcement this month of a "malicious text and voice messaging campaign' in which unidentified 'malicious actors' have been impersonating senior U.S. government officials. The scheme, according to the FBI, has relied on text messages and AI-generated voice messages that purport to come from a senior U.S. official and that aim to dupe other government officials as well as the victim's associates and contacts. Also Read | Deportation risk for 5,00,000 immigrants as SC clears way for Trump to end their parole "Safeguarding our administration officials' ability to securely communicate to accomplish the president's mission is a top priority,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement Friday. It is unclear how someone gained access to Wiles' phone, but the intrusion is the latest security breach for Trump staffers. Last year, Iran hacked into Trump's campaign and sensitive internal documents were stolen and distributed, including a dossier on Vice President JD Vance, created before he was selected as Trump's running mate. Wiles, who served as a co-manager of Trump's campaign before taking on the lynchpin role in his new administration, has amassed a powerful network of contacts.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trump administration halts new student visa interviews, causing anxiety among Indian aspirants
The Donald Trump administration's latest diktat to halt new student visa interviews is exacerbating already-elevated anxiety levels among Indian aspirants. The US President is increasingly being seen as hostile towards international students. While visa appointments will be honoured for students whose dates are fixed, those who are still to book slots are clueless about how long the wait will prevail. Working professionals—many of them B-school candidates—who had quit jobs in India ahead of their planned US move in August, are under even greater stress. Overseas studies consultants said while some clarity is expected in the coming weeks, those keen to study in the US can, for now, only wait while staying in regular touch with institutes. Trump has locked horns with some top institutes, including Harvard, accusing some of enabling anti-semitism on campus. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) A US embassy spokesperson in India on Wednesday said aspirants may continue to submit applications but embassies would adjudicate cases in full compliance with law, including to ensure applicants do not pose a security or safety risk. 'No on e is sure for how long the pause is on, but various stakeholders at NAFSA have been saying it can take around two weeks before clarification comes,' said Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia, Canada and Latin America at education consultancy IDP. Live Events NAFSA, an association of international educators, is currently holding the world's largest trade fair for higher education in San Diego, US. IDP, one of the top companies in the business, has seen a 20% drop in US applications so far this year, with sentiment worsening in the past four five months. 'Hopefully, new visa slots will open. I'm advising students not to panic because there's still twoand-a-half months before they need to head out,' said Kumar. Of IDP's students, 75% have a visa slot but the rest could be held up following the new order. Meanwhile, many are firming up Plan B — exploring other destinations for higher studies, especially in Europe. Prashant Tibrewal, founder of Alum-n-i, said a client has applied to a leading French university and is fairly convinced of heading there, despite securing admission to one of the top 10 US universities. Another client, an MIT MBA admit, plans to spend the coming year at her data science firm, treating it as a chance to deepen her work experience. Students who applied in the early application rounds have been able to secure their visa and are all set to fly, but a few remain in limbo. Additionally, not everyone has a back-up plan. Tibrewal said a Harvard-bound Masters candidate- —who worked with his company this year—had quit his job, but is now unsure if he can even look for other roles while he waits. Treading cautiously Consultants are also actively advising students to audit social media profiles and remove or make private any content that could be misinterpreted. 'US consular officers are being instructed to apply heightened scrutiny to online behaviour, which could include posts or even likes that appear hostile to the US, or supportive of extremist ideologies — even if posted by others. We're encouraging students to err on the side of caution and seek professional guidance if unsure,' said Kunal Mehra, chief executive at Crimson Education India. 'In many cases, we're also directing them to legal resources, so they fully understand the implications. Awareness and proactive caution are the best defences in this climate of increased digital scrutiny,' he added. 'This is showing up in social media forums, where there's been a marked decline in people saying anything negative about the US,' noted Karan Gupta, founder of the eponymous career consultancy. 'Many who were heading to the US this fall don't want to derail plans if possible. But those who have admissions in other countries are keeping those alive. They will switch over later if things don't improve.' Students need to be careful, stressed Sukanya Raman, country head for India at global immigration-focused law firm Davies & Associates llc. 'This administrative action is part of broader efforts of scrutiny on students who want to enter the US.' Raman added that there could be a possibility that American universities would join hands and push back against Trump's directive. 'Otherwise, this could impact the US as a whole—the fees that international students bring in—the talent that adds so much value to US companies and the economy,' she said. Since coming to power, the Trump administration has frozen billions of dollars in funding for US universities and ramped up deportations and student visa revocations. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said recently the number of visas he has revoked was probably in thousands. However, many of these actions are facing legal hurdles. Harvard University, which sued the government after it revoked Harvard's ability to enrol international students, had a federal judge blocking the move with a temporary restraining order. However, Trump has continued with action against the Ivy league institution, most recently moving to cut $100 million in federal contracts.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
America First Lands Again Visa Interview Pause Raises More Questions
Live Events The Donald Trump administration's latest diktat to halt new student visa interviews is exacerbating already-elevated anxiety levels among Indian aspirants. The US President is increasingly being seen as hostile towards international visa appointments will be honoured for students whose dates are fixed, those who are still to book slots are clueless about how long the wait will prevail. Working professionals—many of them B-school candidates—who had quit jobs in India ahead of their planned US move in August, are under even greater studies consultants said while some clarity is expected in the coming weeks, those keen to study in the US can, for now, only wait while staying in regular touch with has locked horns with some top institutes, including Harvard, accusing some of enabling anti-semitism on campus.A US embassy spokesperson in India on Wednesday said aspirants may continue to submit applications but embassies would adjudicate cases in full compliance with law, including to ensure applicants do not pose a security or safety risk.'No one is sure for how long the pause is on, but various stakeholders at NAFSA have been saying it can take around two weeks before clarification comes,' said Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia, Canada and Latin America at education consultancy an association of international educators, is currently holding the world's largest trade fair for higher education in San Diego, one of the top companies in the business, has seen a 20% drop in US applications so far this year, with sentiment worsening in the past four five months. 'Hopefully, new visa slots will open. I'm advising students not to panic because there's still two-and-a-half months before they need to head out,' said Kumar. Of IDP's students, 75% have a visa slot but the rest could be held up following the new many are firming up Plan B — exploring other destinations for higher studies, especially in Tibrewal, founder of Alum-n-i, said a client has applied to a leading French university and is fairly convinced of heading there, despite securing admission to one of the top 10 US client, an MIT MBA admit, plans to spend the coming year at her data science firm, treating it as a chance to deepen her work who applied in the early application rounds have been able to secure their visa and are all set to fly, but a few remain in not everyone has a back-up plan. Tibrewal said a Harvard-bound Masters candidate—who worked with his company this year—had quit his job, but is now unsure if he can even look for other roles while he are also actively advising students to audit social media profiles and remove or make private any content that could be misinterpreted.'US consular officers are being instructed to apply heightened scrutiny to online behaviour, which could include posts or even likes that appear hostile to the US, or supportive of extremist ideologies — even if posted by others. We're encouraging students to err on the side of caution and seek professional guidance if unsure,' said Kunal Mehra, chief executive at Crimson Education India.'In many cases, we're also directing them to legal resources, so they fully understand the implications. Awareness and proactive caution are the best defences in this climate of increased digital scrutiny,' he added.'This is showing up in social media forums, where there's been a marked decline in people saying anything negative about the US,' noted Karan Gupta, founder of the eponymous career consultancy. 'Many who were heading to the US this fall don't want to derail plans if possible. But those who have admissions in other countries are keeping those alive. They will switch over later if things don't improve.'Students need to be careful, stressed Sukanya Raman, country head for India at global immigration-focused law firm Davies & Associates llc. 'This administrative action is part of broader efforts of scrutiny on students who want to enter the US.'Raman added that there could be a possibility that American universities would join hands and push back against Trump's directive. 'Otherwise, this could impact the US as a whole—the fees that international students bring in—the talent that adds so much value to US companies and the economy,' she coming to power, the Trump administration has frozen billions of dollars in funding for US universities and ramped up deportations and student visa revocations. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said recently the number of visas he has revoked was probably in many of these actions are facing legal hurdles. Harvard University, which sued the government after it revoked Harvard's ability to enrol international students, had a federal judge blocking the move with a temporary restraining order. However, Trump has continued with action against the Ivy league institution, most recently moving to cut $100 million in federal contracts.
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Trump administration halts new student visa interviews, causing anxiety among Indian aspirants
The Donald Trump administration's latest diktat to halt new student visa interviews is exacerbating already-elevated anxiety levels among Indian aspirants. The US President is increasingly being seen as hostile towards international students. While visa appointments will be honoured for students whose dates are fixed, those who are still to book slots are clueless about how long the wait will prevail. Working professionals—many of them B-school candidates—who had quit jobs in India ahead of their planned US move in August, are under even greater stress. Overseas studies consultants said while some clarity is expected in the coming weeks, those keen to study in the US can, for now, only wait while staying in regular touch with institutes. Trump has locked horns with some top institutes, including Harvard, accusing some of enabling anti-semitism on campus. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) A US embassy spokesperson in India on Wednesday said aspirants may continue to submit applications but embassies would adjudicate cases in full compliance with law, including to ensure applicants do not pose a security or safety risk. 'No on e is sure for how long the pause is on, but various stakeholders at NAFSA have been saying it can take around two weeks before clarification comes,' said Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia, Canada and Latin America at education consultancy IDP. NAFSA, an association of international educators, is currently holding the world's largest trade fair for higher education in San Diego, one of the top companies in the business, has seen a 20% drop in US applications so far this year, with sentiment worsening in the past four five months. 'Hopefully, new visa slots will open. I'm advising students not to panic because there's still twoand-a-half months before they need to head out,' said Kumar. Of IDP's students, 75% have a visa slot but the rest could be held up following the new order. Meanwhile, many are firming up Plan B — exploring other destinations for higher studies, especially in Europe. Prashant Tibrewal, founder of Alum-n-i, said a client has applied to a leading French university and is fairly convinced of heading there, despite securing admission to one of the top 10 US client, an MIT MBA admit, plans to spend the coming year at her data science firm, treating it as a chance to deepen her work who applied in the early application rounds have been able to secure their visa and are all set to fly, but a few remain in limbo. Additionally, not everyone has a back-up plan. Tibrewal said a Harvard-bound Masters candidate- —who worked with his company this year—had quit his job, but is now unsure if he can even look for other roles while he cautiously Consultants are also actively advising students to audit social media profiles and remove or make private any content that could be misinterpreted.'US consular officers are being instructed to apply heightened scrutiny to online behaviour, which could include posts or even likes that appear hostile to the US, or supportive of extremist ideologies — even if posted by others. We're encouraging students to err on the side of caution and seek professional guidance if unsure,' said Kunal Mehra, chief executive at Crimson Education India.'In many cases, we're also directing them to legal resources, so they fully understand the implications. Awareness and proactive caution are the best defences in this climate of increased digital scrutiny,' he added.'This is showing up in social media forums, where there's been a marked decline in people saying anything negative about the US,' noted Karan Gupta, founder of the eponymous career consultancy. 'Many who were heading to the US this fall don't want to derail plans if possible. But those who have admissions in other countries are keeping those alive. They will switch over later if things don't improve.'Students need to be careful, stressed Sukanya Raman, country head for India at global immigration-focused law firm Davies & Associates llc. 'This administrative action is part of broader efforts of scrutiny on students who want to enter the US.'Raman added that there could be a possibility that American universities would join hands and push back against Trump's directive. 'Otherwise, this could impact the US as a whole—the fees that international students bring in—the talent that adds so much value to US companies and the economy,' she said. Since coming to power, the Trump administration has frozen billions of dollars in funding for US universities and ramped up deportations and student visa revocations. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said recently the number of visas he has revoked was probably in thousands. However, many of these actions are facing legal hurdles. Harvard University, which sued the government after it revoked Harvard's ability to enrol international students, had a federal judge blocking the move with a temporary restraining order. However, Trump has continued with action against the Ivy league institution, most recently moving to cut $100 million in federal contracts.
