Featured Image Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Education
Callum Jones
The Trump administration has announced a new requirement for people hoping to study in the US, though the move has been dubbed by one person online as 'unconstitutional'.
More than one million international students are said to study in the US, with the country being the most popular destination for students overseas to study abroad.
Last month, Trump threatened to revoke visas for an unknown number of Chinese students in the US, as well as tighten future visa screening for those hoping to study in the US in the future.
The Trump administration also halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for overseas students hoping to study in the US in the coming months.
Advert
The US State Department has since rescinded these measures, and said on Wednesday (June 18) it was restarting the process for foreigners to apply for student visas once more.
However, new applicants will be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review and failure to do so may result in an application being rejected.
“The enhanced social media vetting will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country,” a senior State Department official said, as per the Wall Street Journal.
The outlet went on to report consular officers will scour applicants social media accounts to see if they can find any hostility towards the US.
While the new policy is said to be introduced for security purposes, many have slammed it online as one person even dubbed the measures 'insane'.
"That’s still pretty insane thing to do if no cause is present," they penned, while a second added: "Individuals have free speech rights and those free speech rights apply to social media when it comes to the government treating them differently based on the things they say on social media.
"This is highly unconstitutional."
As per AP News, a 27-year-old Ph.D. student based in Toronto has already seen the benefit of interviews for a visa being opened up once more.
The Chinese national is hoping to study in the US from July and is certainly pleased with recent news that processing has resumed, despite the new social media rules.
He said: "I’m really relieved. I’ve been refreshing the website couple of times every day."
The unidentified student has an interview with American officials next week, according to the Associated Press.