The US State Department, under the directive of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has mandated enhanced visa screening procedures for all individuals associated with Harvard University. This extensive directive applies to students, faculty, staff, contractors, guest speakers, and even visitors, marking an unprecedented level of scrutiny aimed at addressing issues related to campus violence and anti-Semitism.
An internal communication dated May 30 emphasizes the need for rigorous vetting due to concerns that Harvard has not maintained a campus environment free from violence and anti-Semitic behavior. The order requires consular officers worldwide to perform additional background checks, including comprehensive reviews of social media profiles. Applicants with private social media accounts may be asked to make them publicly accessible, as privacy might be interpreted as evasiveness.
Applicants must also clearly demonstrate that their intended activities in the United States correspond with the specific type of visa requested. Any doubts about compliance with visa terms are grounds for denial. This intensified screening follows previous measures from the administration targeting foreign nationals from certain countries and specific academic disciplines.
This initiative is part of a broader campaign that has included freezing substantial funding to Harvard, challenging its tax-exempt status, and investigating alleged discrimination claims. Additionally, efforts to restrict the university's capacity to enroll foreign students have emerged, some of which have faced judicial challenges.
Secretary Rubio indicated that this enhanced vetting at Harvard will serve as a pilot program potentially extending to other academic institutions, reflecting a wider strategy to monitor and control visa issuance related to universities.
