Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed U.S. diplomats to step up scrutiny of visa applicants’ social media activity, aiming to bar individuals deemed critical of the United States and Israel from entering the country, The New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials.

Rubio issued the directive in a diplomatic cable sent to U.S. embassies and consulates on March 25, outlining new screening measures. Effective immediately, consular officers must refer certain student and exchange visitor visa applicants to their diplomatic mission’s fraud prevention unit for a “mandatory social media check,” according to two American officials familiar with the directive.

The fraud prevention unit, which operates within the consular affairs sections responsible for issuing visas, plays a key role in vetting applicants under the new policy.

The cable lays out broad criteria for determining visa eligibility. It references comments Rubio made in a March 16 interview with CBS News, in which he stated: “We don’t want people in our country that are going to be committing crimes and undermining our national security or the public safety. It’s that simple, especially people that are here as guests. That is what a visa is.”

According to the directive, special attention will be given to applicants who meet any of the following criteria:

• Have suspected ties to terrorist organizations or extremist groups.

• Previously held a student or exchange visa between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2024.

• Had their visa revoked since October 7, 2023.

The timeline suggests that a primary objective of the policy is to flag students who have expressed support for Palestinians during the ongoing war, potentially affecting those who have engaged in activism or online discussions about the conflict.

Additionally, the cable states that applicants may be denied a visa if their behavior or actions indicate a “hostile attitude toward U.S. citizens or U.S. culture,” including criticism of the government, institutions, or founding principles.

The enhanced social media screening applies to F, M, and J visa categories, which cover students and exchange visitors, according to the directive.