Trump Freezes Student Visas as U.S. Tightens Social Media Checks

International students hoping to study in the United States are facing new hurdles, as the Trump administration has paused new student visa appointments worldwide.

The move is part of a wider plan to expand social media screening for visa applicants.

A memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, obtained by CBS News, instructs U.S. embassies and consulates to stop scheduling new visa interviews for student and exchange visitors.

Interviews that are already scheduled will still take place, but no new ones will be added for now.

The pause will stay in effect “until further guidance is issued”, the memo says. It also warns that the new social media screening process could have “significant implications” for how consulates operate.

While the exact details of the expanded vetting have not been made public, the move aligns with President Donald Trump’s ongoing push for tougher immigration policies.

Speaking to the press, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized the administration’s commitment to strong vetting procedures.

“We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country,” Bruce said. “And we’re going to continue to do that.”

This development comes as President Trump sharpens his criticism of elite universities, accusing them of promoting left-wing ideologies and turning a blind eye to antisemitism.

The White House has tied these accusations to recent pro-Palestinian campus protests, suggesting that some activism may have crossed the line into hate speech.

Over the past year, the administration has already taken bold steps: freezing funding for universities, revoking thousands of student visas, and even attempting to deport international students — although many of these actions have been challenged in court.

U.S. universities are pushing back. Many say the administration’s policies threaten academic freedom and unfairly target international students, who make up a large part of their student populations and tuition income.

For now, no one knows when new student visa interviews will resume or how strict the new screening process will be. But one thing is clear: international students face growing uncertainty if they want to study in the U.S.