Harvard Visa Applicants Face Mandatory Social Media Screening | JQJO

The Trump administration has mandated social media screening for all Harvard visa applicants, citing concerns about antisemitism on campus. A State Department cable instructs consulates to review applicants' online presence, including private accounts, for signs of "evasiveness." This unprecedented measure, part of a pilot program potentially expanding to other universities, follows the administration's broader crackdown on elite universities and comes amidst attempts to freeze visas for foreign students. The policy links enhanced screening to alleged failures by Harvard to combat antisemitism and aims to identify applicants with histories of antisemitic actions. This escalation of existing screening, which already targeted pro-Palestinian protestors, could significantly delay visa processing and impact international enrollment.