Trump administration halts new student visa interviews as it considers to expand social media screening: Report

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,” Rubio wrote in a cable, obtained by Politico.

This directive was sent out worldwide to diplomats, amid the administration's efforts to limit the entry of foreign students in America, claiming that they have contributed to an anti-semitic atmosphere.

According to the cable, interviews that have already been scheduled are permitted to go ahead.

If the administration carries out the plan, it could severely slow down student visa processing.

It could also impact many universities that rely heavily on foreign students to boost their financial coffers.

The Trump administration had earlier imposed some social media screening requirements, but those were largely aimed at returning students who may have participated in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

"The cable doesn’t directly spell out what the future social media vetting would screen for, but it alludes to executive orders that are aimed at keeping out terrorists and battling antisemitism," Politico reported.

This comes after the Donald Trump Administration last week barred the prestigious Harvard University from enrolling international students.

The administration had said the decision was taken amid an ongoing investigation into the university by the Department of Homeland Security.