• The US State Department has ordered enhanced vetting for all visa applicants linked to Harvard University.
• This directive includes prospective students, faculty, contractors, and tourists.
• The measures are part of a broader crackdown on Harvard amid accusations of failing to address anti-Semitism on campus.
• Applicants may be required to make their social media accounts public for review during the visa process.
• This action signals a possible template for future screening measures at other institutions.

The US State Department has instructed all its consular missions to implement additional vetting procedures for visa applicants wishing to travel to Harvard University for any reason, according to internal communications released to the media. This order, dated May 30 and coming from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, encompasses various categories of applicants, including prospective students, staff, faculty, and even tourists, marking a significant extension of the Trump administration's scrutiny of this prestigious academic institution, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The State Department's directive emphasizes that Harvard has failed to maintain "a campus environment free from violence and anti-Semitism," and that the tightened vetting procedures aim to assist consular officers in identifying applicants with "histories of anti-Semitic harassment and violence." This unprecedented application of visa control measures against a university setting underscores the administration's discontent with academic institutions, particularly Harvard, as noted by Channel News Asia and India Times.

The directive directs consular officers to assess the online presence of applicants, which may involve requesting that social media accounts be made public; failure to do so could potentially flag applicants as suspicious. This aspect of the order forms part of a "pilot for expanded screening and vetting" of other visa applicants, hinting at a broader implementation beyond Harvard, according to CBS News and Anadolu Agency.