Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies to pause student visa interviews, as it plans to expand social media vetting.
Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26), who was surprised by the decision, warns it will have devastating consequences for higher education and communities across the country.
"It's outrageous. It's detrimental to all of our communities across this country, including right here in Western New York, where our university systems depend upon a robust student visa program," said Kennedy on Wednesday while speaking in Buffalo. "Students from all across the international community that come to Western New York to study, and many as we know stay, they end up getting their citizenship, raising their families here, and becoming a key part of the growth of our community and the growth of American society. This is just another attack from this administration on higher education across America, and it's absolutely unacceptable."
The Trump administration moved last week to strip Harvard University of its ability to host international students by removing it from the student visa sponsorship program. However, that faced immediate legal pushback and is now on hold under a federal judge’s order.
Kennedy feels the Trump administration continues to push policies that not only undermine American values, but also inflict lasting damage on the U.S. economy.
"Those that didn't support this president are saying, 'This is what we expected.' Those that did support him are having buyer's remorse. They're saying they never thought they'd see the day when student visas would be frozen, or money would be ripped away from our community, or Medicaid would be cut, or Medicare would be cut, or social security would be threatened, all to give a tax break to billionaires in this country," Kennedy said. "This isn't the American dream, this is the American nightmare with Trump as president."