On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a suspension of student visa processing, escalating the Trump administration’s campaign against foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. universities, particularly targeting those accused of supporting Hamas. A cable signed by Rubio, reported by AFP, directed U.S. embassies and consulates to halt “any additional student or exchange visa… appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,” while intensifying social media vetting of international applicants. This follows Rubio’s revocation of over 300 student visas since March 2025, with estimates suggesting thousands more by May 20, as part of President Donald Trump’s broader deportation push under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which allows visa revocations for activities deemed adverse to U.S. foreign policy.
The move coincided with protests at Harvard University, where students rallied against Trump’s plan to cancel $100 million in federal contracts and revoke Harvard’s accreditation for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, threatening the status of its 27% international student population. Demonstrators, chanting “who belongs in class today, let them stay” and holding signs like “Trump = traitor,” gathered near a commencement reception, as reported by The Manila Times. A federal judge issued a restraining order on May 27, halting the accreditation revocation pending a Thursday hearing, coinciding with Harvard’s graduation. Harvard, facing frozen federal grants and canceled contracts, has filed lawsuits to block these measures, with legal experts like Albany Law School’s Ray Brescia predicting courts will overturn Trump’s actions due to their legal flaws.
Trump and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the crackdown, arguing that public funds should prioritize vocational schools promoting “American values” over elite institutions like Harvard, which they claim foster liberal bias and anti-Semitism. Leavitt, on Fox News, emphasized redirecting funds to train electricians and plumbers, criticizing Harvard’s “LGBTQ graduate majors.” Students like Alice Goyer and a British graduate named Jack expressed fears of deportation or forced transfers, warning that Trump’s policies could deter international talent. Harvard alumni, led by filmmaker Anurima Bhargava, plan a June 9 lawsuit through the Crimson Courage group to challenge the administration’s actions. Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Ayanna Pressley, condemned the visa revocations as attacks on free speech, citing cases like Tufts’ Rumeysa Ozturk and Columbia’s Mahmoud Khalil, detained for pro-Palestinian activism.
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