Judge Dismisses Student Visa Social Media Vetting Case

A judge on Friday threw out a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new policy of enhanced social media scrutiny for student visa applicants, according to Bloomberg Law. 

The plaintiffs argued that the State Department’s requirements violated applicants’ First Amendment protections by forcing them to unlock their social media accounts for review and barring entry for any applicant the department deems has demonstrated “any indications of hostility” toward the U.S.

D.C. District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs, a Biden appointee, ruled that the case lacked standing on First Amendment grounds. 

The new State Department policy, which went into effect earlier this month, is the latest escalation of the administration’s campaign to limit the number of foreign students at American colleges and universities. 

International higher ed advocates and leaders worry that it will cause significant delays in approval times for visa applicants with only weeks until campuses begin welcoming their incoming classes.