U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the revocation of over 300 visas for foreign students as part of a continued crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists in U.S. universities. Rubio stated that the actual number of revoked visas could be higher and emphasized his commitment to strict immigration policies.
“We do this every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take their visa away,” Rubio said, referring to individuals involved in pro-Palestinian activism.
The U.S. State Department is also reportedly considering barring certain universities from accepting foreign students suspected of supporting Hamas. Rubio’s comments followed the revocation of a Turkish student’s visa, Rumeysa Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, who was arrested after writing a critical article about Israel.
Rubio defended the decision to revoke Ozturk’s visa, stating, “We give you a visa to come study and earn your degree, not to become a social activist who disrupts our university campuses.”
Ozturk’s arrest came amid controversy, as her family and attorneys deny the accusations linking her to violent activities. She was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts. A viral video captured the moment of her arrest, showing masked agents putting her in handcuffs.
