Trump administration targets Harvard with hard visa screening measures

According to an internal cable reviewed by Reuters on Friday, the US State Department ordered all its Canconscious offices around the world to plan to travel to Harvard University on visa applicants.The May 30 cable, signed by State Secretary Marco Rubio, calls for “additional veating” of all non-resident visa applicants associated with Harvard. It includes students, faculty, employees, contractors, guest speakers and even tourists. The cable emphasizes the word “anyone” using bold and lined text.Instructions claim that Harvard “failed to maintain an atmosphere of a campus free from violence and anti-Jewish,” and the enlarged veating aims to help the authorities identify applicants “with the history of anti-Jewish opponents and violence.”While the United States has applied a hard vet for applicants from specific countries, it is considered unprecedented to target a university. The State Department refused to comment on internal communication.This action is part of a comprehensive effort by the Trump administration against Harvard. The administration is frozen billions in money, pushed to end the tax-free position of the university, and began an investigation into alleged discrimination against white, Asian, male or directly individuals.Trump has criticized major universities for promoting anti -American ideas. Last week, his administration canceled Harvard’s ability to nominate foreign students – a step that was blocked by a federal judge. Harvard has accused his internal rule, educational material and vengeance of opposing intervention in the ideology of the campus.Visa approval related to online transparencyThe cable also directs the consular officers to review the social media of the applicants. If an applicant’s accounts are private, it can be seen as a sign of “evolution”. Officials are asked to ask the applicants to make their accounts public and warn that the hiding activity can be seen as a suspect.Officers are also instructed to ensure the intended activities of the applicant in the US to ensure that they are applying for the type of visas they are applying. If the officer complies with “personally and completely satisfied” that the applicant will comply with the visa conditions, the visa should be denied.The order follows the previous stages by Rubio, which involves preventing students and new visa appointments for exchange programs and starting visa dismal for Chinese students associated with the Communist Party or studying sensitive topics.The cable also suggests that this effort will serve as a “pilot for extended screening and veating”, suggesting that similar procedures can be implemented in other universities in the future.