U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued new directives on Wednesday requiring American embassies worldwide to scrutinize the social media content of certain visa applicants, particularly students and other individuals. These measures aim to target those suspected of criticizing the United States or Israel.
According to The New York Times , citing American officials, these instructions were sent to U.S. diplomatic missions on March 25, following executive orders signed by President Donald Trump. These orders aim to tighten surveillance on foreigners, including those believed to hold "hostile attitudes" toward American citizens, institutions, or culture.
Trump's executive orders also included strict measures against what he described as "anti-Semitism," such as deporting foreign students who participated in campus protests against Israel's war on Gaza.
The memo sent by Rubio instructed U.S. embassy staff to refer certain visa applicants to the Fraud Prevention Unit for mandatory social media account screening. The screening applies to individuals suspected of links to terrorism or those who held study or exchange visas between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2024, or whose visas expired during that period.
The directives highlight that one of the primary goals of this measure is to deny visa applications from students who expressed sympathy for Palestinians during the Israeli war. Applicants may also be denied visas if their online behavior or statements show hostility toward the United States, including its government, institutions, and founding principles.
In an interview with CBS News on March 16, Rubio stated, "We don't want people in our country who commit crimes and undermine our national security or public safety. It's that simple, especially when it comes to guests entering on temporary visas.
These measures are part of a broader policy adopted by the Trump administration to enhance security screening of foreigners, sparking growing debate over the impact of these policies on academic freedoms and freedom of expression.