The United States government has intensified its clampdown on foreign students, with the Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio, ordering an immediate suspension of student visa processing across the country.
In a diplomatic cable obtained by AFP and signed by Rubio, all American embassies and consulates have been instructed to halt the issuance of new student and exchange visas pending further notice. The decision is part of a broader policy targeting foreign students accused of participating in recent protests against the war in Gaza.
The White House claims that some of the demonstrators have shown support for Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, and has begun revoking visas and deporting those involved.
President Donald Trump’s administration has already withdrawn hundreds of valid student visas and has taken steps to block top universities like Harvard from admitting non-American students. The administration has also moved to de-accredit Harvard University from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, a move that has put the academic future of thousands of international students at risk.
These sweeping actions have drawn widespread criticism, especially after it emerged that the federal government also plans to intensify the scrutiny of social media profiles of international applicants seeking admission into US institutions.
On Tuesday, hundreds of Harvard students took to the streets in protest. The protest coincided with a controversial announcement by the Trump administration to terminate remaining federal financial agreements with Harvard — contracts estimated to be worth about $100 million. Protesters described the move as politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent within academic spaces.
“Trump = Traitor,” one placard read, as students chanted in support of their foreign classmates: “Who belongs in class today? Let them stay!”
A US federal judge has, however, issued a temporary restraining order on the matter, pending a full hearing scheduled for Thursday — the same day as Harvard’s graduation ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Speaking to Fox News, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s position, saying public funds should go to vocational schools that support “American values” and offer practical skills, rather than institutions producing “LGBTQ graduate majors.”
The crackdown has triggered fear among foreign students. Alice Goyer, a student who joined the protest in academic gown, said many of her international colleagues are now at risk of deportation or forced to transfer to other institutions.
Another graduating student from the UK, who identified himself only as Jack, expressed doubt about pursuing further studies in the US. “Six years is a long time to commit to a PhD in an uncertain environment,” he said.
Harvard University has since filed legal actions challenging the Trump administration’s measures, including the attempt to revoke its federal funding and international student sponsorship rights. Legal experts believe the university stands a good chance of winning in court.
Ray Brescia, a law professor at Albany Law School, described the government’s actions as legally weak. “The courts are unlikely to allow this to continue unchecked,” he said.
Despite growing legal resistance, President Trump has remained defiant. On Monday, he described Harvard’s foreign students as “radicalised lunatics and troublemakers,” insisting that his administration would not back down.
Meanwhile, a group of Harvard alumni under the banner Crimson Courage has scheduled a lawsuit against the administration for June 9. The group has launched an online campaign to raise legal funds and awareness around the issue.
With tensions rising and international students caught in the middle, all eyes are now on Thursday’s court hearing, which could determine the fate of one of America’s most respected universities — and the thousands of students it serves.
