Trump Administration Orders Social Media Vetting for Foreign Students – Guido Fawkes

Trump Administration Orders Social Media Vetting for Foreign Students

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered all US embassies to pause scheduling interviews for student visas in order to vet applicants’ social media in an effort to weed out those who might pose a threat to national security or push antisemitism on campus. That’s a bright idea…

Rubio wrote yesterday:

“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 (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued. If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalising universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus- we’re not going to give you a visa.”

Cue wailing from the usual suspects, with US universities complaining it could slow down the process of bolstering their ranks (and coffers) with overseas talent. Immigration lawyer David Leopold called it “cataclysmic, maybe even catastrophic.” Or you could make sure foreign students will abide by your country’s laws…