US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed American diplomats abroad to scrutinize the social media activities of students and other visa applicants.
Washington is taking this measure to prevent critics of the US and Israeli administrations from entering the country.
According to a report published by The New York Times on Wednesday, Rubio issued this directive in a lengthy message sent to diplomatic missions on March 25.
It has been revealed that this decision comes nine weeks after President Trump signed an executive order. That order initiated a campaign to deport certain foreign nationals, including those who may hold a “hostile attitude toward American citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.”
Trump issued another executive order directing the expulsion of “opposition-minded” foreign students from the US, particularly those who participated in anti-Israel university protests in Gaza.
Rubio's directive states that some students’ visa applications have been referred to the Fraud Prevention Unit, which will investigate their social media activities. If any applicant is found to have indications of anti-US or anti-Semitic sentiments, they will not be allowed entry into the US
The Fraud Prevention Unit is typically a division of embassies or consulates’ consular sections that assists in screening visa applicants.
The message also provides diplomats with guidelines on visa cancellation criteria. In a March 16 interview with CBS News, Rubio said: “We don’t want anyone in our country who will commit crimes or pose a threat to our national security and public safety. This is a very simple matter, especially for those who come as guests, because a visa is a permit to stay as a guest.”
The directive further states that applicants whose social media activities should be particularly scrutinized include:
Those suspected of involvement or sympathy with terrorist activities.
Students or exchange visa holders who received their visas between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2024.
Individuals whose visas were revoked during this period.
The specific dates mentioned in Rubio’s directive indicate that the primary goal of this social media investigation is to reject visa applications from students who expressed support for Palestinians during the war.
The message further states that visa applications may be denied if an applicant’s behavior or activities indicate a “hostile attitude toward American citizens or American culture (government, institutions, or founding principles).”
It has been explicitly mentioned that student and exchange visas will be subjected to heightened scrutiny.
