Trump Administration Moves to Intensify Scrutiny of Visa Applicants Based on Social Media Activity U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed U.S. embassies worldwide to closely examine the social media activity of visa applicants for any content critical of the United States and Israel before processing their applications. This directive follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump upon his return to the White House. The order authorizes the Department of State to revoke the visas of international students and other temporary visa holders suspected of engaging in anti-American activities. On March 25, Rubio issued a cable to U.S. diplomatic missions, instructing consular officers to refer certain student and exchange visitor visa applicants to the “fraud prevention unit” for a mandatory social media review. The fraud prevention unit, part of the consular affairs section that handles visa issuance, assists in screening applicants. According to reports from The New York Times, the cable outlined the criteria that visa officers should use to assess whether to approve or deny applications. This includes reviewing the social media posts of student and exchange applicants who were granted visas between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2024, to determine if any visa cancellations are warranted. Rubio’s cable emphasized that visa applicants could be denied if their actions or online behavior indicate hostility toward U.S. citizens, its culture, or its institutions, including government structures and founding principles. Since January, Rubio has revoked over 300 visas, many of which were issued to students involved in activities critical of Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Critics argue that the Trump administration’s actions may infringe on constitutional protections related to free speech.