Trump’s administration is shaking up the visa game. Foreign students must now set their social media profiles to public. The State Department insists that a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. Officials will comb through online posts to spot any political activism—especially pro-Palestine advocacy. They say this measure is meant to protect national security.
The new policy demands transparency. Students applying for F, M, and J visas must adjust their digital privacy settings. This ruling follows a cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He warned that applicants with a history of political activism linked to violence could be denied entry. For instance, private posts seen as hiding activity or even endorsements of groups like Hamas might trigger visa revocation. Rubio has already canceled over 300 visas due to pro-Palestine activism.
Universities feel the impact. Many international scholars have been told to check their digital footprints and consult legal advice. Yale’s Office of International Students and Scholars urges students to assess their online presence. Meanwhile, cases like the detention of Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk expose the human toll of these policies.
In this era of social media and digital identity, the administration’s aggressive vetting raises concerns. Are these measures about national security or a crackdown on political dissent? The debate is igniting heated discussions across campuses and social spaces—making it a defining moment for our generation.
SOURCE:
Rolling Stone
NEWS/POLITICS, IMMIGRATION, NATIONAL SECURITY
visa policy, political activism, digital identity, foreign students, national security, pro-Palestine activism, Marco Rubio, campus debate