Washington, DC (BN24) – The U.S. State Department has revoked more than 6,000 student visas, citing violations of American law, overstays, and security threats, in what officials describe as part of the Trump administration’s continued crackdown on immigration and international students.
In a statement provided to the BBC, the department said the “vast majority” of the violations were tied to assault, driving under the influence, burglary, and what it broadly categorized as “support for terrorism.” While officials did not clarify what constituted support for terrorism, critics note that the administration has increasingly targeted students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, accusing some of antisemitic behavior.
Of the visas revoked, roughly 4,000 were rescinded due to direct violations of U.S. law. Another 200 to 300 were revoked under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that define terrorist activity as acts endangering human life or violating American law.
The move follows earlier measures this year when the State Department temporarily paused visa appointments for international students before restarting them in June with stricter screening rules. Applicants are now required to provide access to their social media accounts, with officials instructed to flag “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.”
Officers were also ordered to screen for individuals who might “advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security,” or who commit unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in May that thousands of student visas had already been rescinded since January and that the effort would continue. “We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities,” Rubio said.
The crackdown has drawn criticism from Democrats, who argue that the broad revocations amount to an attack on due process and unfairly target international students.
Despite the mass cancellations, international students remain a vital presence in U.S. higher education. More than 1.1 million students from over 210 countries were enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year, according to Open Doors, a group that tracks foreign student enrollment.
