
US State Department orders embassies to ‘immediately begin additional vetting’ for anyone seeking a visa to travel to Harvard
CNN
The US State Department on Friday ordered all US embassies and consulates to “immediately begin additional vetting” for anyone seeking a visa to travel to Harvard University “for any purpose.”
The US State Department on Friday ordered all US embassies and consulates to “immediately begin additional vetting” for anyone seeking a visa to travel to Harvard University “for any purpose.” The move is a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s feud with the Ivy League institution that is poised to have massive implications, as it applies to more than just students. The “additional vetting” is comprised of “a complete screening of the online presence” of the applicants who wish to travel to Harvard, which will serve as a pilot for expanded social media screening and vetting visa applicants across the board. “Such applicants include, but are not limited to prospective students, students, faculty, employees, contractors, guest speakers, and tourists,” the diplomatic cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and seen by CNN said. CNN reported Wednesday that the State Department would begin reviewing Harvard-affiliated visas, but the cable provides more details about how this will be applied to those seeking the ability to visit, attend, or work at Harvard. The cable notes that consular officers should determine, either in pre-screening or an interview, if the applicant is seeking to travel to Harvard, and such applicants should be refused a visa “pending review of their online presence.”

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