Indian-American Congressman Krishnamoorthi slams Trump over freeze on student visa interviews, calls it 'strategic blunder'

Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has criticised the Trump administration’s decision to freeze student visa interviews and consider strict social media screening for international students. He called it a “reckless decision” that could damage the country’s economy and national security.

Krishnamoorthi also said that shutting international students out is a "strategic blunder" that weakens US global competitiveness.

"I strongly oppose the Trump Administration's reckless decision to freeze new student visa interviews and consider sweeping, undefined social media vetting for international students. International students help drive cutting-edge research, fuel our universities, and build the industries of tomorrow,” said Krishnamoorthi.

“These young people are not only scholars and innovators- they are vital to America's economic strength and national security. By developing the next generation of technologies and the good-paying jobs that come with them, they help ensure the United States remains a global leader."

His remarks came after US secretary of state Marco Rubio ordered embassies and consulates to stop scheduling new visa interviews for student applicants. The Trump administration is also considering requiring students to undergo expanded vetting of their social media activity.

In a separate move, Trump suggested that Harvard University should cap the number of foreign students it admits at 15 percent. He claimed that the current figure, around 31 percent, includes students from “very radicalised” regions.

“We have people that want to go to Harvard and other schools but they can't get in because we have foreign students there," said Trump.

"I want to make sure that foreign students are people that can love our country. We don't want to see shopping centres explode. We don't want to see the kind of riots that you had, and I'll tell you what, many of those students didn't go anywhere, many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left," he added.