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International Students Sue Over Trump’s Social Media Visa Surveillance Plan

Are international students facing visa delays due to new social media surveillance policies? The recent lawsuit filed by Iranian students against the Trump administration highlights the increasing scrutiny and suspension of student visa interviews linked to social media vetting. Since May 2019, the State Department has required visa applicants to disclose social media accounts, intensifying vetting for applicants from Muslim-majority countries like Iran. This move has left many students in limbo, waiting months or even over a year for national security reviews, impacting their educational plans and future careers.

Fifteen Iranian students and researchers have taken legal action in a Virginia federal court against Secretary of State Marco Rubio, challenging the State Department’s indefinite pause on student visa interviews. The lawsuit alleges this suspension violates the Administrative Procedures Act by enacting arbitrary and capricious rule-making. These students, admitted to prestigious universities including Yale, Ohio State, and the University of South Florida, are pursuing advanced degrees in high-demand fields such as computer science, engineering, and finance. Despite completing visa interviews long ago, their applications remain under extended national security vetting, effectively stalling their academic journeys.

This suspension forms part of a broader, multi-layered crackdown by the Trump administration targeting international students and academic institutions. Recently, the State Department announced plans to “aggressively revoke visas” for Chinese students, particularly those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying critical fields, working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Further tightening of controls has hit elite universities like Harvard, where DHS temporarily cut off the school’s access to federal student tracking databases, risking deportations for thousands of foreign students before a federal judge intervened.

Moreover, international students involved in campus protests, especially those supporting Palestine, have seen their visas suspended under Rubio’s directive. The administration has even extended visa restrictions to foreign nationals enforcing international censorship laws, such as regulators implementing the European Union’s Digital Services Act, raising complex questions about free speech and diplomatic retaliation.

This lawsuit and ongoing visa suspensions spotlight the growing tension between national security measures and the rights of international students in the U.S. With social media surveillance becoming a key tool in visa vetting processes, students worldwide are left navigating unprecedented uncertainties. These developments not only affect the futures of countless students but also challenge the global competitiveness of American universities reliant on international talent in STEM and other critical sectors.

For students, universities, and policymakers alike, the case underscores urgent questions about the balance between security, privacy, and academic freedom — especially as the U.S. continues to enforce controversial digital surveillance measures. Stay informed about visa policies and legal developments that impact international education and immigration rights.