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The Hill
a day ago
- Business
- The Hill
International students look to cleanse social media amid new Trump visa policy
International students are scrubbing their social media or in some case reevaluating their decision to study in the U.S. after the Trump administration announced new visa screenings without offering specific insight into what could get someone on the no-entry list. Companies that specialize in mass deletions of posts have seen an uptick in services since the Department of Homeland Security's announcement. But clearing out everything the administration finds controversial could raise other alarms, leaving foreign students in a bind. 'I think students have pretty much assumed that anything is open for interpretation or misinterpretation, and so as a result, they're extremely cautious when it comes to engaging with social media moving forward,' said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of the Association of International Educators, or NAFSA. The new screenings were announced in June after a three-week pause on visa interviews to update the policy, part of a broader Trump crackdown on both legal and illegal immigration. The State Department said it would target those 'who pose a threat to U.S. national security,' without specifying what that would entail, and demanded anyone applying for a student visa make their social media accounts public. The go-to response from students appears to be cleansing their social media of anything even remotely controversial. Dan Saltman, CEO and founder of says his company's trajectory has 'greatly accelerated' with 10 percent growth each month for the past few months. His firm offers a software that allows individuals to mass delete posts across 30 different platforms. 'Basically, our understanding is that people are using this to clean up any political takes that they have, whatsoever, anything that can be seen as inflammatory, really kind of quelling freedom of speech,' Saltman said. 'We've especially seen this growth in international countries, especially India, China, South Korea, have been some of the biggest growth areas that we've seen on that front. And we've also seen it as well from people in the U.S. and the U.K., very heavily. So, it's been an unprecedented level of change of how people think about their privacy,' he added. China and India are the two biggest exporters of students to the U.S. In the 2023-2024 school year, around 1.1 million international students came to America, with those two nations making up more than half. Shaun Carver, executive director of International House at the University of California, Berkeley, said his group has seen a 40 percent decrease in Chinese and Indian students since last year. 'India and China have always been 9 to 10 percent of the I-House population, and this year there both of them are below 6,' Carver said, adding other countries in Africa and the Middle East appear to be securitized heavily. Students and advocates have been spooked for months as they watch the Trump administration target the visas of, and, at times, arrest international students who have expressed pro-Palestinian views. The administration says those under scrutiny have expressed support for Hamas or antisemitism, but students fear getting caught up in a wide net that could potentially flag anything anti-Israel — or anti-Trump — as disqualifying. In response to requests for clarification from The Hill, a State Department spokesperson reiterated students need to change their account settings to 'public' for vetting purposes. 'As with any country, applying for a visa is voluntary, and individuals are free to decide whether to pursue travel to the United States,' the spokesperson added. Plans to purge social media accounts could raise alarms, but the problem could be even worse for someone who never had social media before. 'It's a catch-22 for students: If you didn't have any social media presence to begin with, that could be considered suspect. And so what do you do about that?' Aw asked. 'You go ahead and you create a social media presence, and then, because you've created a social media presence' that would have little activity 'could that also be considered suspect? So there's, there's no winning here on any level,' she added.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Dismantling DPP: a risky gamble with Pakistan's food security
The recent restructuring of Pakistan's agricultural regulatory framework under the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) Ordinance 2025 has created widespread confusion, institutional uncertainty, and serious operational disruptions. Intended as a reform to modernize and streamline food safety and agri-trade functions, the implementation of this ordinance — particularly the dissolution of core functions of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) — has proven technically inconsistent and strategically misaligned. For decades, the DPP functioned as Pakistan's National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and FAO. It was not merely a plant quarantine body — it managed pesticide regulation, led the country's desert locust control program, conducted aerial pest control operations, and maintained critical international partnerships with bodies like the FAO and regional surveillance networks, including neighbor countries. However, the new NAFSA framework has thrown the future of these vital functions into uncertainty. The situation worsened on July 3, 2025, when the Federal Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) approved the transfer of 282 - technical and supporting regular staff members (BPS 01 to 19)—key to desert locust operations—to the federal government's Establishment Division's surplus pool. This move effectively dismantles nearly half of DPP's core team and put the last nail in its coffin. Alarmingly, there's no clarity on whether more staff will be added to this list in subsequent phases or not. Adding to the contradiction, the same ministry/department has reportedly hired 50–100 contract entomologists under the guise of a desert locust project—only to reassign them to plant quarantine functions. These bureaucratic inconsistencies raise serious concerns about decision-making within the ministry. Such actions appear to prioritize administrative face-saving over food security, ignoring the looming threat of desert locust infestations, which could lead to devastating consequences for crops and national food supplies. In response to the earlier article, the Federal Secretary for MNFS&R, Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, clarified that the DPP would retain its desert locust control mandate. He said, 'The new authority will not do the locust control function. That is why it is not part of the new law… DPP is not being completely disbanded. In fact, it would be a dedicated organization for locust control at the federal level.' While this statement provided partial relief, it also exposed the structural disorder at play. If DPP will continue to function for locust control, then what happens to its other mandates and no official notification has addressed these core responsibilities. Contradictions continue to emerge. In a recent meeting with the Russian Ambassador, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain acknowledged DPP's ongoing role in fruit fly surveillance to support export standards. Meanwhile, industry bodies like the Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) continue to engage with DPP on matters like pesticide registration — indicating that DPP's functions remain active despite the formal creation of NAFSA. This hybrid status—where DPP is simultaneously being phased out and still actively functioning — raises major compliance concerns under international agreements like the IPPC. According to IPPC standards, an NPPO must be a recognised government body, not a semi-autonomous or undefined entity. Countries like India, Kenya, and Australia retain their NPPOs directly under agricultural ministries to ensure policy alignment and international credibility. Pakistan's ambiguous model threatens its compliance status and could undermine agricultural exports. The core issue stems from how the restructuring was executed: with minimal input from domain experts and heavy reliance on bureaucratic decisions. This exclusion of technical professionals has led to flawed policies, unclear jurisdictional boundaries, and a total lack of transition planning—leaving exporters, provincial departments, and global partners unsure of whom to approach for certifications, risk assessments, and phytosanitary assurances. A more effective approach would have been a phased transition plan, involving stakeholders and domain professionals from the outset. Instead, what exists now is a disjointed system marked by overlapping mandates, legal ambiguity, and operational paralysis. Despite reassurances from officials like Mr. Chaudhry, key questions remain unanswered: Who will now serve as Pakistan's legally designated NPPO under the IPPC and desert locust coordination and control organisation? Will NAFSA be recognized in that role internationally—and under what legal framework? How will essential services like pesticide registration, pest surveillance including cross boundary insects, and export certifications continue without disruption? Until these questions are resolved through formal legal instruments, transparent policy declarations, and the appointment of competent technical professionals, the restructuring cannot be considered complete or credible. As Pakistan moves through the critical kharif season, these unresolved issues carry significant economic and diplomatic risks. Immediate action is needed to restore institutional continuity, define clear mandates, and ensure that experienced professionals are empowered to safeguard the country's agricultural and phytosanitary systems. The DPP has historically acted as Pakistan's first line of defence against invasive insect pests and crop diseases. It was structured like a paramilitary organisation, designed to address pest threats across three seasonal breeding zones: summer, winter, and spring. Its headquarters in Karachi — once a full-fledged base—along with regional hubs in all four provinces, included aerial control infrastructure, landing strips, operational vehicles, and field outposts in key locations like Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Bhitshah and Qambar Bakrani in Sindh, while Quetta, Khuzdar, Uthal, Panjgur, Pasni, Chaman, Taftan, Turbatetc in Balochistan, similarly Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Rawalpindi in Punjab and Peshawar and Mardanin KP with two hangars Karachi and Walton Lahore. Hence, it was once a huge organization with no comparison in the region. However, the head office's land is allocated and given to different 'orphan' departments like FSC&RD, PARC and Animal Quarantine. It also housed technical workshops, maintenance facilities, spare parts depots, and fleets of pest control vehicles. The department was capable of mounting rapid locust surveillance and aerial spray operations, backed by trained engineers and entomologists. Now, this robust infrastructure is being broken up — its land repurposed, its teams disbanded, and its mandate diluted. Without strategic foresight, Pakistan risks losing a vital institution that has protected its crops, supported its exports, and fulfilled international commitments for decades. The path forward must prioritize clarity, expertise, and legal coherence. Otherwise, this reform may ultimately prove to be a self-inflicted wound to Pakistan's agricultural/food security and global credibility. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
14-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan launches new agri-trade authority to promote modern agriculture
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has established a new regulatory body to reform its agriculture sector and bring domestic food safety standards in line with international requirements, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Monday. The new National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) has been set up under a reform drive led by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a civil-military hybrid body formed in 2023 to fast-track foreign investment and economic reform in strategic sectors, including agriculture, mining, IT and defense production. NAFSA consolidates the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and the Animal Quarantine Department into a single authority aimed at promoting modern agricultural practices, reducing excessive chemical use and facilitating trade in agricultural products. 'The establishment of the new body, by merging DPP and Animal Quarantine, is an important milestone toward development of agriculture sector,' the APP report stated. The report did not provide further details on NAFSA's governance, regulatory powers and rollout timeline. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pakistan's economy, employing nearly 38 percent of the workforce and contributing around 19 percent to the country's GDP. However, the sector has long faced challenges, including outdated practices, poor regulatory oversight, low export competitiveness and barriers in meeting international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. By centralizing regulatory oversight and compliance, the government hopes NAFSA will address long-standing inefficiencies and support value-added agricultural exports. 'NAFSA is aimed at introducing modern agricultural systems according to global standards,' the APP said. 'It will help reduce unnecessary use of Methyl Bromide, saving up to forty thousand rupees per container.' Methyl Bromide, a fumigant used to control pests during export processing, has been heavily restricted under global environmental protocols due to its ozone-depleting properties. NAFSA's efforts to limit its use are expected to improve both environmental sustainability and export cost efficiency. The move aligns with broader reforms spearheaded by the SIFC, which was formed through a civil-military consensus to fast-track investment decisions, cut bureaucratic delays and attract foreign capital, especially from Gulf and Chinese partners, to priority sectors. 'Transparency and innovation is being promoted in the agriculture sector with the support of the SIFC,' the APP report said.
Time Magazine
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
What to Know About New Social Media Screening Rules for Student Visas
Prospective students applying for U.S. student visas must now unlock their social media accounts for government review, the State Department said Wednesday. The notice instructs applicants for F, M, and J visas to change their social media profile privacy settings to 'public.' A separate cable, obtained by multiple news outlets, directed embassies and consulates to vet applicants for 'hostile attitudes towards our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles,' while visa appointments, which had been suspended in May, are allowed to resume. The guidance comes amid the Trump Administration's crackdown on universities, including by targeting international students. 'A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,' the announcement said, echoing a refrain that's become common among the Trump Administration. 'Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. 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 interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.' Here's what to know about the new guidance. Visa process reopened Weeks after embassies were told to stop all new student visa appointments, they are now allowed to resume. Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said in a statement at the time that the pause—and more stringent checks—would cause 'unnecessary delays, fuels uncertainty, and damages our reputation as a welcoming destination for global talent.' The cable noted that increased vetting may be a strain on consulates, and said consular officers 'should consider overall scheduling volume and the resource demands of appropriate vetting' such as by scheduling fewer appointments, the Washington Post reported. The State Department told embassies to prioritize students going to colleges where international students make up less than 15% of the student body, per the cable, which was first reported by the Free Press. An Associated Press analysis from 2023 found that international students comprise more than 15% of the total student body at around 200 universities across the country, including all eight Ivy League colleges, and more than 15% of the undergraduate student body at around 100 universities. Trump previously said Harvard should cap its foreign enrollment at 15%. The Trump Administration has targeted international students at the elite university in a punitive move over the school's refusal to sufficiently capitulate to a list of demands. International students currently make up more than a quarter of Harvard's student body. Expanded scrutiny of social media Applicants for student and exchange visas will now have their 'entire online presence' vetted, per the cable reportedly said. If students refuse to change their accounts to 'public' and 'limited access to, or visibility of, online presence could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity.' Specifically, consulates are instructed to 'identify applicants who bear hostile attitudes towards our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles; who advocate for, aid, or support designated terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security; or who perpetrate unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.' The guidance did not specify what exactly would constitute 'hostile attitudes.' Consulates are required to implement the new procedures within five business days, but the new criteria applies to both new applicants as well as to cases currently in progress—students who are awaiting their interviews, have been interviewed but who have not yet been approved, and those whose interviews have been waived. 'During the vetting, you simply are looking for any potentially derogatory information about the applicant,' the cable said, but gave as an example: 'You might discover on social media that an applicant endorsed Hamas or its activities.' 'For applicants who demonstrate a history of political activism, especially when it is associated with violence or with the views and activities described above, you must consider the likelihood they would continue such activity in the United States and, if so, whether such activity is consistent with the nonimmigrant visa classification they seek,' the cable said, as reported by CNN. 'As Secretary Rubio has said, we do not seek to import activists who will disrupt and undermine scholarly activity at U.S. universities.' Moreover, students' 'online presence' will go beyond their social media activity, Politico reported, and includes information from online databases like LexisNexis. Whether or not an applicant's activity amounts to a threat is at the discretion of consular officers, according to the cable, adding that 'you must consider whether they undermine the applicant's credibility or suggest that the applicant will not respect the terms of his admission to the United States.' Officers are instructed to take 'detailed case notes' including screenshots for additional review. The cable notes that student visa applicants warrant particularly strict vetting because 'the FBI has long warned that foreign powers seek access to American higher education institutions to, among other things, steal technical information, exploit U.S. research and development, and spread false information for political or other reasons.' Critics, like Aw, have said increased vetting should be 'applied uniformly—not selectively to students who have long contributed to American classrooms, communities, and cutting-edge research.' Higher education experts previously told TIME that more rigorous scrutiny of students' social media, in addition to punitive policies toward students that participated in pro-Palestinian activism, could have a chilling effect on academic freedom—something U.S. universities had previously developed a strong global reputation for. Lili Yang, an associate professor specializing in higher education at the University of Hong Kong, said that Trump's crackdown will lead to a tremendously negative impact on free speech on campus and the U.S.'s reputation [as] a place for free expression.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US universities will need African students as Trump ban unfolds
The Trump administration has unleashed a flurry of restrictive measures targeting higher education and international students, putting the US at risk of losing the talent that has long fueled its innovation. Whatever the intended policy goals, each new visa restriction or cut in research funding is perceived as American hostility toward international students. The once-golden 'Education USA' brand is being tarnished, as the rising tide of exclusion threatens to sink the very boats it once helped lift. At NAFSA, the largest gathering of international education stakeholders last month in San Diego, I spoke to a number of representatives from mid-tier destination countries who were sent to the meeting to figure out how to capture some of the erstwhile US-bound talent. This is bad news for US universities. The longer the uncertainty lasts, the more likely it is that third-party service providers, whose business models depend on tuition revenue, will double down on enabling students to finance higher education in countries where their efforts will be rewarded. Unfortunately, this means that even when the US policy environment swings back to being pro-international students, existing pipelines of talent will have new suitors. And the already competitive landscape for fee-paying international students will be even more fierce. The good news is that this attack is not sustainable. It will soon become apparent that it is simply not possible for the US to win in the knowledge economy without international talent. Even as higher education becomes entangled in both domestic culture wars and geopolitics, US universities must use these coming months of uncertainty to cultivate new pipelines of students, especially from under-explored countries on the African continent, in order to strengthen their resilience. This is the time to complement the whirlwind, three-African-cities-in-three-weeks approach to recruiting with investment in long-term institutional agreements. US universities should start forging partnerships around certification and pricing with African universities to enable different models of dual- and joint-degree programs. This can be low-hanging fruit, not least because the American degree is still much sought after. This is also the time to consider implementing satellite campuses on the African continent. With 54 countries, Africa offers a diversity that, if taken seriously, can help US universities avoid the concentration risk that has come from overreliance on students from India and China. Think about it. In the current uncertainty, those universities with strategic partnerships across geographies will have students starting their education towards a US degree this fall, visa appointment times notwithstanding. Similarly, those universities with campuses elsewhere are less affected than their counterparts. Restoring the halo of the American university brand will not happen overnight. There will likely be a lag before the US can reclaim its place in the imaginations of globally mobile, ambitious students. But just as universities once built their reputations as beacons of opportunity, they must now take up the challenge of rebuilding — patiently cultivating new, longer-term pipelines in untapped regions. Only by doing this deliberate work of building new partnerships will they ensure that, when the tide finally turns, they are not left scrambling to win back students who have already found new academic homes elsewhere. Done right, this work will further expand access to international education, strengthen the resilience of the sector, and enable even more education dreams.
