By: Deborah Amewoyi
President of the United States, Donald Trump have issued a directive to US embassies across the globe to temporarily suspend scheduling visa appointments of foreign students accross various learning institutions in the states.
In an official memo signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the suspension will pave way for the conduction of social media background checks on various foreign students applying for the visa.
He further revealed that the suspension which will be in effect until further guidance is issued but will not affect foreign students who have already scheduled appointments for their interviews. Unfortunately, this directive will affect a significant number of Ghanaian students who have secured admission to enrol in higher institutions of learning in the United States.
Justifying reasons for this latest enforcement, Tammy Bruce touched on prioritizing the safety of the country. He said, “We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
President Donald Trump’s administration has posed significant threats to foreign students in the United States [Particularly Harvad University]. This comes at the back of some Pro – Palestinian demonstrations on campuses which the US administration believes possess significant threats to the country. Eventhough The Guardian have reported that the US have begun vetting of foreign student’s social media to identify Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, Trump has also frozen funding directed to some of these universities.
In addition, Trump issued a directive to block Havard from enrolling foriegn students however, this directive was blocked by US district federal judge , Allison D. Burroughs.
