Overview

• A May 30 cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio orders all non-immigrant visa candidates for Harvard to undergo enhanced vetting.
• The directive covers prospective and current students, faculty, staff, contractors, guest speakers and tourists visiting or working at Harvard University.
• Consular officers are instructed to examine applicants’ online presence and may view private social media accounts as evidence of evasiveness.
• The measure aims to identify individuals with any history of anti-Semitic harassment or violence on campus.
• Officials call this policy a pilot for broader screening that follows efforts to freeze Harvard’s funding and challenge its tax-exempt status.