Trump student visa ban leaves future of Aussie students up in the air
Thousands of Australian academics and students are caught up in Donald Trump’s student visa ban. See why it is being hailed a “major turning point”.
World
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The future of thousands of Australians studying at American universities is in limbo after the Trump administration ordered a pause on new student visa appointments and warned a proposed ban on international enrolments at Harvard could be extended to other institutions.
A leaked State Department telegram revealed the US Government has ordered all embassies to pause student visa appointments as it moves to implement mandatory social media vetting of overseas applicants.
Almost 4500 Australians are currently enrolled at higher education facilities in the United States.
June and July are typically among the busiest months for student visa applications ahead of the American fall semester.
It comes as the administration escalated its dispute with Harvard University, ordering federal institutions to cancel contracts with the prestigious university that are estimated to be worth about $100m.
A judge is also expected to make a further decision later this week on whether a currently paused order made last week by the Department of Homeland Security to cancel Harvard’s eligibility to host foreign students is lawful.
About 120 Australian students are currently enrolled at Harvard University.
Pierre Huguet, the CEO of college admissions consulting firm H&C Education, said the latest developments marked a “major turning point”.
“It also significantly alters how international students perceive academic opportunities in the US,” Mr Huguet said.
“International students have felt directly targeted by the administration’s policies and a decline in international student enrolment is highly likely.”
The new order to US embassies signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated: “Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued … which we anticipate in the coming days,” the order signed by ads.
Immigration lawyers and travellers have reported increased scrutiny of the social media accounts of people entering the United States since Donald Trump returned to office.
The telegram alluded to potential delays in visa appointments as a result of the impending changes.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the United States would use “every tool in our tool chest to vet anyone coming in”.
“Every sovereign country has a right to know who is trying to come in, why they want to come in, who they are, what they’ve been doing, and at least hopefully within that framework determine what they will be doing while they’re here,” she said.
Harvard students were blindsided last week in the final days of the Spring semester when Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem announced she was revoking the prestigious institution’s ability to enrol international students.
Ms Noem said the government was “holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and co-ordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus”.
Harvard secured a temporary pause to protect its 6800 international students and the case will return to court on Thursday.
Ms Noem said the decision should serve as a warning to other universities.
“Get your act together because we are coming to make sure that these programs … are facilitating an environment where students can learn, where they’re safe and that they’re not discriminated against based on their race or their religion,” she said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Trump student visa ban leaves future of Aussie students up in the air