The US State Department has revoked over 300 student visas and placed hundreds more under review, focusing mainly on foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestine protests across US campuses.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the crackdown, describing those affected as “lunatics” and pledging to continue the daily cancellations.
Rubio, during a visit to Guyana, confirmed the visa cancellations, stating, “Maybe more than 300 at this point. We do it every day, every time I find one of these lunatics.” His comments follow a growing effort to target foreign nationals speaking out in support of Palestine.
A notable case involved Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University on a Fulbright scholarship.
Ozturk was detained in public by plainclothes agents after she co-authored an op-ed supporting Palestinians in Gaza. Her visa was revoked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), citing her alleged support for Hamas.
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Critics argue this move undermines academic freedom and free speech, drawing significant backlash for perceived overreach.
In Rubio’s defense, he explained the policy, saying, “Once you’ve lost your visa, you’re no longer legally in the United States. If you come into the US as a visitor and create a ruckus for us, we don’t want it. Go back and do it in your country.”
This latest development is part of a broader strategy under the Trump administration, which has also paused green card processing for certain refugees and issued a directive targeting transgender athletes.
In a statement, the State Department confirmed that over 20 visas had been revoked and that hundreds more are under review due to “national security concerns.”
The department assured that visa reviews are ongoing, with the goal of ensuring that visitors comply with US law and do not pose a security risk to the country.
