Latest news with #SecRubio
The Wire
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
US to Impose Visa Restrictions on Foreign Officials Accused of Censoring Americans Abroad
World The Wire Staff The Trump administration has also directed US embassies across the world to not schedule new interviews for international student visas. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo: X/@SecRubio Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute Now New Delhi: United States secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that the country will impose visa restrictions on foreign officials and individuals accused of censoring Americans abroad. In a post on X on Wednesday (May 28), Rubio said that foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to the country. 'Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over,' Rubio wrote on X. 'For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights. Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans. Free speech is essential to the American way of life – a birthright over which foreign governments have no authority,' he added in another post. For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights. Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans.… — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2025 Rubio added that it was unacceptable for foreign officials to demand content moderation from American tech platforms. The Trump administration has also directed US embassies across the world to not schedule new interviews for international student visas, reported Indian Express. 'Consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,' said a message sent by the US State Department. World Trump Tariffs Blocked by Federal Trade Court; White House to Appeal View More
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US to revoke visas of Chinese students linked to Chinese Communist Party or critical fields, Marco Rubio announces
The US government announced it will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, particularly those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in sensitive areas, a move that adds to growing concerns over foreign student policies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tweeted on Wednesday, 'The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' He added the State Department will 'aggressively' pursue these revocations. — SecRubio (@SecRubio) This marks another step in the Trump administration's ongoing effort to tighten control over international students, especially those from China — the second-largest source of foreign students in US universities. Over 270,000 Chinese students were enrolled in the US during the 2023-2024 academic year, making up nearly a quarter of all international students. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오늘 신차장기렌트 가장 저렴한 견적서 딱 20장만 뽑아드립니다. 허위견적200%환불보상 더 알아보기 Undo The announcement follows earlier actions this week, including a suspension of new visa interview appointments for international students. Rubio's department is preparing stricter guidelines that will increase vetting of students' social media activity, signalling a more intensive review process. These moves have deepened uncertainty for international students already feeling pressure under the current administration. Vladyslav Plyaka, a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student, expressed his worries to AP, 'I don't think I have enough trust in the system at this point.' Originally from Ukraine, Plyaka had planned to visit his mother in Poland and renew his visa but is unsure when he will be able to do so, fearing he might lose his chance to return to the US. Live Events Trump targets Harvard University over international students Adding to tensions, President Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of Harvard University, calling for a cap on foreign student admissions at 15 per cent. Currently, international students make up about 31 per cent of Harvard's enrolment, which Trump claims includes many from 'areas of the world that are very radicalised.' Trump said, 'Why would 31 percent? Why would a number be so big? I think they (Harvard University) should have a cap of maybe around 15 per cent. We have people that want to go to Harvard and other schools but they can't get in because we have foreign students there.' He further warned, 'We don't want to see shopping centres explode. We don't want to see the kind of riots that you had… many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left.' Harvard, however, has resisted the government's demands for data on its foreign students and has filed a lawsuit against the administration, which cut over $2.6 billion in federal grants to the university. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Harvard's response to requests for student records 'fell short,' leading to the administration's attempt to block the university from enrolling international students — a move temporarily halted by a federal judge. Impact on international students and US universities The evolving policies have left many students uncertain about their futures in the US. A graduate student from China, who wished to remain anonymous, said, 'There's a growing fear among us… We came here to learn and contribute. Now we're treated as threats.' Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA , an association representing international educators, said the suspension of visa appointments 'will do further damage to the U.S. reputation as a destination country.' She added, 'International students and scholars are tremendous assets that contribute to U.S. preeminence in innovation, research, and economic strength. Undermining their ability to study here is self-defeating.' At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one international student from Vietnam described a 'constant unease' due to the uncertainty, cancelling a planned trip home this summer and regularly checking with the university's international office to confirm legal status. Visa categories and economic stakes The visa pause affects three main categories: F-1 visas for full-time accredited students, J-1 visas for exchange programmes, and M-1 visas for vocational or non-academic courses. In 2024, around 1.1 million international students were enrolled in the US, a significant source of revenue for tuition-driven colleges, as these students often pay full fees and are ineligible for federal aid. Universities are bracing for the impact. Northeastern University, with over 20,000 international students, has 'contingency plans' for those facing visa delays, according to spokesperson Renata Nyul. She said, 'This is a very dynamic situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments in real time to assess any potential impacts.' Since 2019, visa applicants have had to provide their social media handles for review. The State Department's new guidelines suggest an even more resource-intensive vetting process, although exact details remain unclear. Jonathan Friedman of PEN America warned, 'The details remain vague, but this policy risks upending the long-standing place of the U.S. as a beacon for intellectual and cultural exchange with the world.' The administration's aggressive stance extends beyond visa control. Earlier this year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and attempted to deport students involved in pro-Palestine campus protests. It also abruptly ended, then partially restored, legal protections for thousands of international students, expanding the grounds for losing study permissions.
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US will begin revoking the visas of Chinese students
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) Advertisement University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student Vladyslav Plyaka was planning to visit Poland to see his mother and renew his visa, but he doesn't know when that will be possible now that visa appointments are suspended. He also doesn't feel safe leaving the U.S. even when appointments resume. 'I don't think I have enough trust in the system at this point,' said Plyaka, who came to the U.S. from Ukraine as an exchange student in high school and stayed for college. The announcement came days after the Trump administration moved to block Harvard University from enrolling any international students, a decision that has been put on hold by a federal judge, pending a lawsuit. Advertisement Trump said Wednesday that Harvard, whose current student population is made up of more than a quarter of international students, should limit that percentage to about 15%. 'I want to make sure the foreign students are people that can love our country,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Earlier this year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and tried to deport students who had been involved in campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war. And the Trump administration abruptly terminated the legal status of thousands of international students before reversing itself and then expanding the grounds on which students can lose permission to study in the U.S. International students see new reason for caution The uncertainty raised by the suspension of visa appointments will do further damage to the U.S. reputation as a destination country, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association that represents international educators. Students generally commit to their program of study in late spring, meaning now would be peak time for students to schedule their visa interviews. 'International students and scholars are tremendous assets that contribute to U.S. preeminence in innovation, research, and economic strength,' Aw said in a statement. 'Undermining their ability to study here is self-defeating.' Related : At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the climate of uncertainty led one international student to cancel a trip home to Vietnam this summer. He emails the school's international office frequently to make sure his legal status is secure. 'There's just this constant unease. It's quite stressful, really,' said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted. The pause affects three categories of visas that cover university students, as well as high school exchange students and boarding school students. The largest category, F-1 visas, includes students who are enrolling at full-time accredited schools. Students participating in exchange programs enter on J-1 visas, and those enrolling in vocational or non-academic programs enter on M-1 visas. Advertisement Around 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year — a source of essential revenue for tuition-driven colleges. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Often, they pay full price. Northeastern University, which has more than 20,000 international students, has set up 'contingency plans' for those who hit visa delays, said spokesperson Renata Nyul, without elaborating. 'This is a very dynamic situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments in real time to assess any potential impacts,' she said. The US plans more in-depth reviews of visa applicants' social media Visa applicants have been required to provide social media handles to the State Department since 2019. The cable did not indicate what kind of additional scrutiny the new guidelines would cover, but suggested the new reviews may be more resource-intensive. The additional vetting will deter students from coming to the U.S., said Jonathan Friedman of PEN America, a literary and free expression organization. 'The details remain vague, but this policy risks upending the long-standing place of the U.S. as a beacon for intellectual and cultural exchange with the world,' Friedman said. The move to cut off international enrollment at Harvard stems from a dispute with the Department of Homeland Security, which has demanded that it provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation. Harvard says it complied with the records request, but the agency said its response fell short. On Wednesday, Trump said more scrutiny of Harvard's students is necessary. Advertisement 'They're taking people from areas of the world that are very radicalized, and we don't want them making trouble in our country,' Trump said. The Trump administration has cut over $2.6 billion in federal grants for Harvard as it presses demands for changes to policies and governance at the Ivy League school, which the president has described as a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism. Harvard has pushed back and filed a lawsuit against the administration. Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim in Washington and Jocelyn Gecker in San Francisco contributed to this report.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
US announces new visa restriction policy for foreigners who ‘censor' America
The United States will impose new visa restrictions on foreign officials and individuals accused of censoring Americans abroad, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday. In a post on X, Rubio said the move is aimed at those who have 'fined, harassed, and even charged' Americans for exercising their free speech rights. 'Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country,' Rubio wrote. 'Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over.' For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights. Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans.… — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2025 'It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on US citizens or US residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on US soil,' Rubio said as per The Guardian. He said it was 'similarly unacceptable' for foreign officials to demand content moderation from American tech platforms. The policy's implementation details remain unclear. Earlier, on Tuesday, the Trump administration told US embassies around the world to stop scheduling new interviews for international student visas. 'Consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,' a message sent by State Department read.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rubio says US to refuse visas to officials over online 'censorship'
The United States will refuse visas to foreign officials who block Americans' social media posts , Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday in his latest crackdown. Rubio -- who himself has come under fire for removing US visas from activists who criticize Israel -- said he was acting against "flagrant censorship actions" overseas against US tech firms. He did not publicly name any official who would lose a visa under the new policy. But last week he suggested to lawmakers that he was planning action against Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who has battled X owner Elon Musk to remove alleged disinformation . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Vietnam (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo — SecRubio (@SecRubio) (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The administration of President Donald Trump -- himself a prolific and often confrontational social media user -- has also sharply criticized allies Germany and Britain for restricting what the governments term hate speech. Live Events Rubio said that the United States will begin to restrict visas to foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States." "It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on US citizens or US residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on US soil," Rubio said in a statement. "It is similarly unacceptable for foreign officials to demand that American tech platforms adopt global content moderation policies or engage in censorship activity that reaches beyond their authority and into the United States," he said. "We will not tolerate encroachments upon American sovereignty , especially when such encroachments undermine the exercise of our fundamental right to free speech ." Rubio has said that he has revoked the US visas for thousands of people, largely students who have protested against Israel's offensive in Gaza. Among the most visible cases has been Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University who had written an opinion piece in a student newspaper criticizing the school's position on Gaza. Masked agents arrested her on a Massachusetts street and took her away. A judge recently ordered her release.
