Marco Rubio Directs State Department To Examine Visa Applicants' Social Media Accounts

The Trump administration has revoked hundreds of student visas since taking office, primarily targeting students involved in activities it has deemed as overly-critical of the United States. In fact, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said recently that the State Department had revoked more than 300 student visas, focusing especially on those who it says support Hamas in its war against Israel.

"Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa," Rubio told reporters in Guyana. "Might be more than 300 at this point. Might be more. We do it every day," he said.

Now, according to a report by The New York Times, Rubio has also ordered U.S. diplomats overseas to examine the social media accounts of some applicants for student and other types of visas in an effort to block those suspected of criticizing the U.S. from entering the country.

The dates specified by Rubio in the cable reported by the outlet suggest that one of the main aims of the new social media searches is to reject applications of students who have expressed their sympathy and support for Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.

Two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said Rubio sent instructions for managing visa applications in a long cable to diplomatic missions on March 25.

The orders stated that, starting immediately, consular officers must refer certain student and exchange visitor visa applicants to the "fraud prevention unit" for a "mandatory media check."

Rubio's cable also said applicants can be denied visas if their actions or behavior show "a hostile attitude toward U.S. citizens or U.S. culture."

The types of visas subject to increased scrutiny are F, M, and J visas, which are non-immigrant visas for individuals coming to the U.S. for educational purposes.

Once the revocation letters are signed, Rubio sends them to the Department of Homeland Security, which then deploys agents to detain individuals whose visas have been revoked or, in some cases, those who have lost their status as permanent U.S. residents.

First reported by The Handbasket, an independent news site, the cable cites remarks Rubio made during an interview with CBS's Margaret Brennan. Concretely, he said officials "do not want people in our country who are going to be committing crimes and undermining our national security or public safety."

When contacted for comment, a State Department spokesperson told The New York Times in mid-March that "all available technology" was being used to screen visa applicants and holders.