The administration of United States President Donald Trump has imposed stricter visa checks for Harvard’s visitors, targeting students, faculty, staff, and even tourists seeking to engage with the prestigious university.
The directive, issued by the Trump administration on May 30, 2025, mandates enhanced vetting, including comprehensive social media screenings, for all non-immigrant visa applicants connected to Harvard University.
According to the directive contained in a diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide have been instructed to vet all Harvard’s visitors.
Individuals seeking a visa to visit, study, or work at Harvard are set to be affected by this directive.
The directive claimed Harvard has failed to maintain a campus environment free from violence and antisemitism, citing “information identified by the Department of Homeland Security” as evidence.
Consular officers are now required to conduct a “complete screening of the online presence” of visa applicants.
If applicants have private social media settings or fail to provide requested information, this could be viewed as “evasiveness,” potentially leading to visa denials.
Applicants are expected to make their social media accounts public during the review process.
Also, the Fraud Prevention Unit has been tasked with conducting thorough investigations into the online activities of visitors visiting Harvard.
This includes checking for signs of possible inadmissibility, intent to engage in activities that do not align with their visa classification, or any other credibility concerns.
The crackdown on Harvard’s visitors is the latest development amid tension that has been escalating between Harvard and Trump’s administration.
Recall that Trump’s administration had accused Harvard of allegedly fostering antisemitism, liberalism, and discriminatory practices, including allegations of racial bias in the Harvard Law Review’s article selection and editor appointment processes.
Also, the development comes after Trump’s administration had earlier frozen $2.25 billion in research grants and attempted to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, a move temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
