CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday ordered an immediate suspension of student visa processing, marking a fresh move in the Trump administration’s escalating crackdown on foreign students and elite universities.
According to a cable obtained by AFP, Rubio directed U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to pause all new student and exchange visa appointments “until further guidance is issued.” The directive also calls for intensified vetting of international applicants’ social media profiles.
This follows the revocation of hundreds of student visas and efforts to deport those protesting the Gaza war, whom the administration accuses of supporting the militant group Hamas.
In a broader offensive, President Donald Trump moved to block Harvard University from admitting foreign students and announced the termination of federal contracts with the institution — a financial blow estimated at $100 million. The administration has also rescinded Harvard’s access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, effectively ending its ability to sponsor international students.
Tuesday’s actions sparked mass protests on Harvard’s campus, where students condemned the administration’s sweeping measures. “Trump = traitor,” read one sign, while protesters chanted, “Who belongs in class today, let them stay.”
The measures coincided with the university’s commencement week, prompting a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order ahead of a hearing set for Thursday.
At a Fox News appearance, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended the cuts, saying federal funds should go to trade and state schools “promoting American values” and teaching skills like plumbing and electrical work, not “LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard.”
A British student graduating this week said the hostile environment may deter foreign applicants: “I don’t know if I’d pursue a PhD here. Six years is a long time.”
Harvard has filed multiple lawsuits challenging the federal actions, and legal scholars predict courts will likely overturn the administration’s moves. Additional legal action from alumni is planned for June 9, according to filmmaker Anurima Bhargava during a Crimson Courage webinar.
The administration accuses institutions like Harvard of liberal bias and anti-Semitism, freezing billions in grants and tearing up contracts. Legal experts say the unprecedented campaign may not hold up in higher courts.
Still, Trump vowed Monday to push forward, calling some international students “radicalized lunatics.”
AFP
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