Latest news with #visa
Washington Post
4 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Federal officials to vet social media accounts of visa applicants heading to Harvard
Federal officials are set to start reviewing the social media accounts of visa applicants who plan to attend, work at or visit Harvard University for any signs of antisemitism, marking the latest development in a clash between the Trump administration and the Ivy League school. A cable sent Friday signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press accused the university of failing to keep violence and antisemitism off campus. It said the vetting measure will help consular officers identify applicants with a history of those offenses 'and to duly consider their visa eligibility under U.S. immigration law.'
Bloomberg
6 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Rubio Says Lack of Social-Media Profile Could Prompt Visa Denial
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday ordered more scrutiny of the social-media profiles of any foreigners seeking to visit Harvard University, telling US consular officers that applicants' lack of an online presence might be enough evidence to deny a visa. Rubio's cable, sent to embassies worldwide, marked the latest salvo by the Trump administration against Harvard, the foreign students who go there and elite universities more broadly. Rubio said the procedure spelled out in the document would serve as a pilot for the future days after he halted interviews for student visas to consider ways to weed out applicants deemed to pose possible risks to US national security.
CBS News
7 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Carnegie Mellon's international students watch Trump's battle with Harvard
As a world leader in the computer sciences, artificial intelligence and robotics, CMU attracts students from around the world. Some 14,000 international students make up 44% of CMU's student body — the second highest percentage of any school in the country. Students like Koharu Matsuki — a rising junior in biomedical engineering from Japan — is closely watching the Trump administration's battle with Harvard University to prevent the future enrollment of any more international students. The administration has put all other universities on notice. "Is there fear among the international students that they may not be able to come back?" KDKA-TV's Andy Sheehan asked. "I feel like yes, in a way," said Matsuki. "I feel like it's more just like uncertainty. We just don't know." "It feels surreal but also real at the same time," Matsuki added. Most of CMU's international students are from China, and just this week, the State Department announced new measures to review visa applicants' social media posts and reject any with Communist connections. "The United States is putting America first by beginning to revoke visas of Chinese students, as warranted, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party," said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Carnegie Mellon declined comment, saying: "Since these matters are in a constant state of change, we're still analyzing the most recent developments and can't speak to them at this time." But the university depends on this large enrollment, since the vast majority of the international students do not get financial aid and pay the full tuition of $64,000 a year. And the city's economic leaders say reducing their number would sorely impact the local economy. Many have stayed after graduation and some have started companies and businesses. Squirrel Hill is now 18% Asian, reflected in the businesses along Forbes Avenue. "If CMU wasn't bringing in international students, we wouldn't have the kind of business district that we have now. Who knows what would have happened," said Mardi Isler of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition. "It's hard not to believe that international students are a vital part of American universities and all the work that's being done here," Matsuki said. Uncertainty is the word among the international students as the administration's moves against universities have provoked court fights. But they say they'll just keep about their studies until they hear otherwise.
Washington Post
11 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Trump administration intensifies vetting for all visas linked to Harvard
Visa applicants for anyone traveling to Harvard University will be more intensely vetted by U.S. State Department officials following a new directive issued Friday that singles out the institution for scrutiny. Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed U.S. embassies and consulates to complete additional vetting for people requesting visas to travel to Harvard, including screening their social media accounts. The extra screenings would not be limited to students but extends to 'faculty, employees, contractors, guest speakers, and tourists,' according to a State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post. The memo also noted that the pilot project could be extended to all student visas in the future.
CBS News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Trump's State Department orders "additional vetting" for anyone wanting to come to Harvard
The State Department has told U.S. embassies and consulates to expand vetting for all visa applicants who wish to come to Harvard University, including visitors as well as students, according to an email obtained by CBS News. In an internal email dated May 29 and sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's office to all U.S. diplomatic and consular posts, consular officers were told that this "additional vetting" applies to anyone wanting a visa to come to Harvard for "any purpose." That includes current or prospective students, faculty, employees, contractors, guest speakers and even tourists, per the email. The email told consular officers to "conduct a complete screening of the online presence of any nonimmigrant visa applicant seeking to travel to Harvard University for any purpose." Officers should also "consider whether the lack of any online presence, or having social media accounts restricted to "private" or with limited visibility, may be reflective of evasiveness and call into question the applicant's credibility." The email said consular officers can also request applicants to set their social media accounts to "public" for vetting purposes. Notably, the email states that the new vetting procedure for Harvard will also serve as a "pilot for expanded screening and vetting" of visa applicants "generally," including for student visas. The State Department "may announce similar measures for other groups of visa applicants as appropriate, and in accordance with U.S. law". A source familiar with the email who was granted anonymity to speak freely told CBS news that it will likely be difficult to implement the vetting instructions uniformly across all US consular sections around the world, and for all universities assuming this pilot process gets expanded to foreign applicants for other U.S. universities. Earlier this week, the State Department told embassies it was preparing for "expanded social media vetting" of student visa applicants, according to a cable obtained by CBS News. The department ordered a halt to new student visa appointments in the interim. "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," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in response to the visa appointment freeze earlier this week. The stricter vetting procedure now targeting America's leading global university is the result of two executive orders signed by President Trump: One that directed more vetting for visas, and one calling for a crackdown on antisemitism, per the email. The email cited "information identified by the Department of Homeland Security" as apparently giving evidence that Harvard University has "failed to maintain a campus environment free from violence and anti-Semitism." Asked for comment regarding the expanded vetting instructions for Harvard-related visas, a State Department spokesperson told CBS News, "The Department of State does not comment on its internal documents or communications." CBS News also asked the State Department why it has singled out Harvard for additional vetting. The Trump administration has taken aim at Harvard in recent weeks, accusing it of failing to respond to what it views as rampant antisemitic activity on campus. Last week, the administration sought to take away Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students — a significant threat for a school where just over one in four students are international. The order was blocked by a judge following a lawsuit from Harvard. The Trump administration has also frozen federal funding to the Ivy League school. Meanwhile, the Trump administration tried to revoke the student visa status of thousands of international students, many of whom appeared to draw the government's attention due to minor legal infractions. That policy was halted by a judge. Rubio said Wednesday the State Department will "aggressively revoke" visas for some Chinese international students, including those studying in "critical fields" and people with links to the Chinese Communist Party. China's embassy in the U.S. called the move "politically motivated and discriminatory." And some international students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests have faced detention, under a law allowing the government to revoke visas for anyone deemed to pose "adverse foreign policy consequences." When asked by reporters Friday whether he supports international students studying in the U.S., Mr. Trump said he does: "We want to have great students here, we just don't want students that are causing trouble." "I don't think Harvard's been acting very nicely," Mr. Trump said, reiterating his call to redirect funds from Harvard to trade schools. "Harvard's trying to be a big shot."
