Trump administration targets Harvard with tougher visa screening measures

Harvard University

The US state department ordered all its consular offices around the world to carry out extra checks on visa applicants planning to travel to Harvard University for any reason, according to an internal cable reviewed by Reuters on Friday.The May 30 cable, signed by secretary of state Marco Rubio, calls for “additional vetting” of all non-immigrant visa applicants connected to Harvard. This includes students, faculty, staff, contractors, guest speakers, and even tourists. The cable emphasizes the word “any,” using bold and underlined text.The instruction claims Harvard failed to maintain “a campus environment free from violence and anti-Semitism,” and the enhanced vetting aims to help officers identify applicants “with histories of anti-Semitic harassment and violence.”While the US has previously applied tougher vetting for applicants from specific countries, targeting a university is considered unprecedented. The state department declined to comment on internal communications.This action is part of a wider effort by the Trump administration against Harvard. The administration has frozen billions in funding, pushed to end the university’s tax-exempt status, and launched a probe into alleged discrimination against white, Asian, male, or straight individuals.Trump has criticised leading universities for fostering anti-American views. Last week, his administration revoked Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students—a move that was blocked by a federal judge. Harvard has accused the administration of retaliation for resisting interference in its internal governance, academic content, and campus ideology.Visa approval tied to online transparencyThe cable also directs consular officers to review applicants’ social media. If an applicant’s accounts are private, it may be seen as a sign of “evasiveness.” Officers are told to ask applicants to make their accounts public and may warn that hiding activity could be viewed as suspicious.Officers are also instructed to ensure the applicant’s intended activities in the US match the type of visa they are applying for. If the officer is not “personally and completely satisfied” that the applicant will comply with visa terms, the visa should be denied.The order follows previous steps by Rubio, including halting new visa appointments for student and exchange programs and beginning the revocation of visas for Chinese students linked to the Communist Party or studying sensitive subjects.The cable also states this effort will serve as a “pilot for expanded screening and vetting,” suggesting that similar procedures could be applied to other universities in the future.