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President Donald Trump's administration has revoked over 300 visas of foreign-born college students in the United States, targeting those involved in protests against the war in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move, stating that the students had overstepped their bounds by engaging in activism instead of focusing on their studies.
"We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist," Rubio said during a press conference on Thursday (March 27).
The crackdown has led to the detainment of several students, including Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Öztürk, who was arrested near her apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts. Öztürk, a Turkish national, was detained by federal agents while on her way to an Iftar dinner. Her arrest has sparked protests and criticism, with many likening the detentions to state-sanctioned kidnappings.
The administration is using an immigration provision dating back to the Cold War to justify these actions, arguing that student activists pose a threat to national security. Rubio emphasized that the revocations are part of a broader effort to curb what he described as destructive behavior on university campuses.
The detainment of students like Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder, has drawn national attention and protests. The White House's actions have been criticized for targeting students whose main transgression appears to be activism.
As the administration continues its crackdown, the number of revoked visas may increase, with Rubio stating, "It might be more than 300 at this point."