Aug 18, 07:29 PM

U.S. Revokes 6,000 Student Visas for Crime, Terrorism Concerns

The U.S. State Department said Monday it has revoked more than 6,000 foreign student visas so far in 2025, citing overstays, criminal conduct and a small number of terrorism-related cases. Roughly 4,000 of the cancellations involved students charged with crimes—mostly assault, but also drunken driving and burglary—while an estimated 200 to 300 visas were withdrawn under immigration rules that bar support for terrorist organisations, a senior department official told reporters. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made visa enforcement a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown, tightening social-media screening and instructing consulates to scrutinise applicants deemed hostile to U.S. interests. Including non-student categories, the department says it has pulled about 40,000 visas this year. Civil-liberties groups and Democratic lawmakers such as Senator Jeff Merkley contend the policy undermines due-process and free-speech protections, noting recent detentions of students who joined pro-Palestinian protests. Rubio counters that visas are a privilege, not a right, and says the revocations will continue.

#Marco Rubio #Trump #Democratic #Jeff Merkley #Palestinian #Rubio

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