Screening foreign students for loyalty: Impact on Indian applicants; challenges ahead

The Trump administration’s new policy requires US universities to screen foreign students for support of American and Western values and check for hostility to the US or its allies. Indian students, a significant group in the US, face increased ideological scrutiny alongside visa challenges. This screening involves background checks and reporting to federal agencies, affecting admissions and campus diversity. The policy is part of wider educational reforms linking federal funding to ideological alignment, raising concerns about academic freedom and economic impact.