US halts student visa appointments and plans expanded social media vetting

The Trump administration has directed US embassies to halt the scheduling of student visa appointments as it prepares to enhance social media vetting for applicants, according to a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The decision, which affects foreign students seeking to study in the US, comes amidst tensions between the administration and elite universities, with accusations of enabling antisemitism and discriminatory admissions practices. This move follows previous actions to freeze funding for universities and revoke visas, further impacting institutions reliant on international students.