By Khabarmala Correspondent
Tuesday, August 20,
In the past six months following the re-election of President Donald Trump, the U.S. State Department has revoked the visas of more than 6,000 international students. The revocations were due to alleged violations of U.S. law and overstaying visa terms, the department confirmed.
According to the State Department, the “vast majority” of the students had been involved in incidents such as assault, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary, or were suspected of supporting terrorism.
The move is seen as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on immigration and international student policies. Of the 6,000 revoked visas, approximately 4,000 were terminated due to criminal violations. An additional 200–300 were cancelled under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 3B, which broadly defines terrorist activity as any act that endangers human life or violates U.S. laws.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration paused all international student visa appointments. When the process resumed in June, a new rule required all applicants to make their social media accounts public for enhanced screening. Visas could be denied based on any indication of hostility toward American citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, according to public notices.
Additionally, U.S. immigration officers were instructed to identify applicants who support foreign terrorist organizations, pose a threat to national security, or engage in unlawful antisemitic behavior.
In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed lawmakers that “thousands” of student visas had already been rescinded since January. “We’re not sure of the exact number yet, but there’s certainly more to be done,” Rubio stated, emphasizing that the administration would continue revoking visas of foreign guests who are “disrupting” American higher education institutions.
However, Democratic leaders have criticized the policy as an “attack on due process”, warning that it could unfairly affect innocent students.
According to Open Doors, an organization that tracks international student data, over 1.1 million students from more than 210 countries were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023–24 academic year. However, recent changes in visa policy and increased restrictions have made many students hesitant to apply to American universities.
In a related move, the Trump administration had earlier announced it would “aggressively” revoke the visas of Chinese students, particularly those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in sensitive technological or national security-related fields. The directive comes amid deteriorating U.S.–China relations, intensified by trade and security tensions.
According to Secretary Rubio, students studying in fields tied to national security, sensitive technologies, or intellectual property would come under increased scrutiny. He has ordered U.S. embassies worldwide to tighten visa appointments for Chinese students and expand social media screening protocols.
Source: BBC
