Aug 18, 02:33 PM

Rubio’s State Department Revokes Over 6,000 Student Visas in 2025 Crackdown

The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, has revoked more than 6,000 student visas so far in 2025 for visa overstays and alleged criminal or security-related violations, according to a senior department official cited by Fox News Digital on 18 August. The infractions include assault, DUIs, burglary and support for terrorism. Roughly 800 revocations stemmed from assault-related incidents, while between 200 and 300 students allegedly raised funds for Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. In total, the department says it has pulled about 40,000 visas of all types this year, far exceeding the 16,000 revoked during the same period of the previous administration. Rubio has linked the effort to a series of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump in January aimed at tightening immigration vetting and combating antisemitism. The secretary told lawmakers in May that additional visa reviews are under way, including for students involved in pro-Palestine protests. Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Jeff Merkley, have criticized the policy as an overreach that denies due process, underscoring the widening partisan divide over the administration’s immigration and national-security agenda.