The U.S. State Department has ordered all its embassies and consulates worldwide to “immediately begin additional vetting” for any individual seeking a visa to travel to Harvard University, regardless of the purpose of their visit.
- The U.S. State Department has mandated enhanced vetting for visa applicants associated with Harvard University.
- This policy applies to students, faculty, staff, contractors, and any visitors connected to Harvard.
- The policy aims to address concerns about campus safety and anti-Semitism, emphasizing adherence to visa classifications.
This directive, contained in a diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s stance toward Harvard, directing embassies to apply heightened visa scrutiny for all travelers associated with the university
According to the cable, the new vetting policy applies to a wide range of individuals beyond just students. The categories include prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, contractors, guest speakers, and even tourists affiliated with Harvard in any capacity.
This move introduces a pilot program for an expanded social media screening process that may later apply to all U.S. visa applicants.
Consular officers are now instructed to identify visa applicants intending to travel to Harvard during either the pre-screening stage or the visa interview. Once identified, such applicants must be denied a visa “pending review of their online presence.” The cable underlines and bolds the word “any” to emphasize that the policy applies to all nonimmigrant visa applicants for “any” reason.
The cable mandates a “complete screening of the online presence” of each applicant. It also outlines steps for consular officers to refer otherwise eligible applicants to the Fraud Prevention Unit if they have social media accounts set to private or lack an online presence altogether.
The cable states that these characteristics could be seen as evasive and potentially cast doubt on the applicant’s credibility.
New checks introduced for visitors
Applicants are expected to make their social media accounts public during the review process.
The Fraud Prevention Unit is tasked with conducting thorough investigations into applicants’ online activity. This includes checking for signs of possible inadmissibility, intent to engage in activities that do not align with their visa classification, or any other credibility concerns.
The cable emphasizes that consular officers must be fully satisfied that the applicant will engage only in activities consistent with their nonimmigrant visa status while in the U.S. If that confidence is lacking, officers are instructed to deny the visa.
The enhanced screening measures are intended to help identify applicants with histories of antisemitic harassment or violence.
The cable references the Department of Homeland Security’s claim that Harvard has “failed to maintain a campus environment free from violence and anti-Semitism,” which appears to be a central reason behind the policy.
Earlier this week, the State Department issued a separate cable suspending all new student visa appointments while preparations for the expanded social media vetting are underway.
This directive significantly broadens the scope of U.S. visa scrutiny and singles out one academic institution. While the move has raised eyebrows among educators and legal experts, the administration has defended it as necessary to ensure U.S. immigration laws are upheld and campus safety is protected.
Fathia Olasupo
