Trump's week in review: From new student visa policy to East Palestine investigation

3. State Department to vet visa applicants’ social media pages 

In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department announced that it was implementing new guidelines requiring those applying for student and visitor visas in the U.S. to make their social media profiles public to allow for proper vetting. “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department stated. 

“The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interest, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities with the terms for their admission,” the Department added. “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision.” 

The U.S. State Department vowed that the new guidelines would help the executive branch agency uphold “the highest standards of national security and public safety.” The new guidelines come as the U.S. State Department has faced criticism for revoking the visas of foreign students who have engaged in acts of protest on college campuses by blocking access to buildings and perpetrating violence.