Jun 19 State Department resumes visas for foreign students but demands access to their social media By Matthew Lee, Associated Press The department says consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. Continue reading
Jun 17 WATCH: Task force will help Americans who want to leave the Middle East, State Department says By Associated Press The task force, run by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, is operating 24 hours to provide information to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents wanting to return to the United States. Continue reading
Jun 05 WATCH: State Department briefing addresses sanctions on ICC judges, Trump’s new travel ban By Matthew Lee, Molly Quell, Associated Press The Trump administration is slapping sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court over the tribunal’s investigation into alleged war crimes by Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and in the West Bank. Continue reading
May 28 U.S. stops scheduling foreign students’ visa interviews while expanding social media vetting By Matthew Lee, Annie Ma, Associated Press A U.S. official said Tuesday the suspension is intended to be temporary and does not apply to applicants who already had scheduled their visa interviews. Continue reading
May 20 WATCH: Rubio testifies on State Department budget request, defending dramatic cuts By Matthew Lee, Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Democratic senators sparred Tuesday over the Trump administration’s foreign policies, ranging from Ukraine and Russia to the Middle East, Latin America, the slashing of the U.S. foreign assistance budget and refugee admissions. Continue reading
May 12 WATCH: White Afrikaners from South Africa arrive at Dulles airport to seek U.S. resettlement By Gerald Imray, Associated Press Many in South Africa are puzzled by claims that Afrikaners are persecuted and meet the requirements to be relocated as refugees. Continue reading
Apr 22 State Department unveils massive overhaul of agency, 15 percent staff reduction By Farnoush Amiri, Matthew Lee, Associated Press Plans include consolidating 734 bureaus and offices to 602 as well as transitioning 137 offices "to another location within the Department to increase efficiency."… Continue reading
Apr 15 WATCH: State Department holds news briefing as DOGE staffer made head of foreign assistance By Matthew Lee, Farnoush Amiri, Associated Press A senior U.S. official said Tuesday the Republican administration has appointed Musk lieutenant Jeremy Lewin as acting head of all foreign assistance at the State Department. Lewin is an associate of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency team. Continue reading
Apr 08 WATCH: State Department says funding to some life-saving UN food programs was cut by mistake By Ellen Knickmeyer, Matthew Lee, Associated Press “There were a few programs that were cut in other countries that were not meant to be cut, that have been rolled back and put into place,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. Continue reading
Mar 10 What protections do green card holders and foreign students have in the U.S.? By Rebecca Santana, Associated Press Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a message posted Sunday on X that the administration will be “revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”… Continue reading