US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed US diplomats to scrutinize visa applicants’ social media for criticism of the US and Israel, The New York Times reports.
Rubio’s directive, issued March 25, follows an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump in January requiring the US government to ensure that foreign nationals “not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.”
Rubio told reporters last Thursday that since taking office in late January, he estimates that he has revoked at least 300 visas, many of them for students.
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