Thousands of international students in the U.S. have lost their visas after being found guilty of serious offenses. The State Department confirmed to the BBC that it has revoked over 6,000 visas, saying the “vast majority” of violations involved assault, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary, and even “support for terrorism.”
While the State Department did not clarify what it meant by “support for terrorism,” it can be assumed that, as seen earlier when the Trump administration targeted some students who voiced support for Palestine—often framing their protests as antisemitic behavior—the term can be applied broadly.
Out of the more than 6,000 visas pulled, officials said nearly 4,000 were tied to students who had broken U.S. laws. Another 200 to 300 were revoked under “terrorism done under INA 3B,” a section of the law that defines “terrorist activity” in broad terms, including actions that threaten lives or break federal statutes, according to the State Department.
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The decision also fits into the Trump administration’s wider push to tighten rules on immigration and student visas. Earlier this year, new visa appointments for international students were temporarily halted, and when they resumed in June, applicants were asked to share their social media handles for added scrutiny.
Officials said the extra checks would look for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.” They also directed State Department officers to flag applicants “who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security; or who perpetrate unlawful anti-semitic harassment or violence.”
Speaking to U.S. lawmakers on May 20, Rubio said, as per BBC report, “I don’t know the latest count, but we probably have more to do. We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities.”
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In Trump administration, immigration agencies, embassies, and other government offices repeatedly cautioned people applying to enter the U.S. under various visa categories. Officials also used social media posts on X to warn foreign nationals with criminal records that they could face visa denials or revocations.
Earlier, the Trump administration rolled out a tough “catch and revoke” approach, putting the visa status of foreigners at risk if they broke U.S. laws, a clear warning even to those living in the country legally. Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed this stance, outlining a zero-tolerance policy for temporary visa holders in an official State Department notice. “Whenever the government catches non-U.S. citizens breaking our laws, we will take action to revoke their status. The time of contemptuously taking advantage of our nation’s generosity ends,” said Rubio, per Financial Express.