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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said more than 6,000 student visas have been revoked this year under the Trump administration, citing overstays, criminal violations and ties to terrorism.
A senior State Department official said the action reflects a zero-tolerance approach to foreign visitors who break U.S. laws or express extremist support while in the country.
“Every single student visa revoked under the Trump administration has happened because the individual has either broken the law or expressed support for terrorism while in the United States,” a State Department official said in a statement.
Of the 6,000 cases, approximately 4,000 involved students who were found guilty of crimes such as assault or driving under the influence, according to the department. Nearly 800 were either under arrest or facing criminal charges. About 250 individuals allegedly raised funds for Hamas, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization.
Rubio has made visa enforcement a key part of the administration’s broader immigration and national security strategy, which has included enhanced vetting measures, expanded monitoring of foreign students and new coordination with law enforcement agencies.
The State Department said the revoked visas were linked to individuals from multiple countries but did not provide a country-by-country breakdown. Officials stressed that the moves were not targeted at any single nationality, but rather at behaviors and activities deemed dangerous or unlawful.
“I don’t know the latest count, but we probably have more to do,” Rubio said during a Senate appropriations subcommittee overseeing foreign affairs in May. “We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities.”
Supporters argue that strict enforcement is necessary to prevent potential threats from slipping through the system. Rubio and administration officials have emphasized that the actions are intended to safeguard national security while preserving legitimate student exchange programs.
A student visa allows foreign nationals to study in the United States for a limited period at an accredited academic institution.
The recent enforcement actions on student visas coincide with several executive orders signed by President Donald Trump in January. Those orders were intended to strengthen national security against foreign terrorists, address other security threats and combat antisemitism.