Trump Halts Student Visas, Sparking Brain Drain Fears
The US State Department has temporarily halted new student visa appointments globally to implement expanded social media vetting for all applicants. This action, stemming from a cable issued by Secretary Rubio, follows recent visa revocations and attempts to restrict foreign student enrollment. The pause is expected to create a significant backlog and potentially severely impact fall enrollment, particularly given the timing of the announcement. The expanded vetting process, while described as a review of existing procedures, raises concerns about its impact on international student admissions to US universities.