The US State Department has revoked more than 6,000 international student visas with the “vast majority” of the violations being assault, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary and “support for terrorism”.
The move comes as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigration and international students, reports the BBC. The Trump administration halted scheduling visa appointments for international students earlier this year, before announcing in June that all applicants have to make their social media accounts public for screening.
Of the 6,000 student visas that were revoked, the State Department said about 4,000 of those were revoked because visitors broke the law. Another 200-300 visas were also revoked for “terrorism done under INA 3B”, the State Department said, referring to code that defines “terrorist activity” broadly as acts that endanger human life or violate US law.
While the State Department did not specify what they meant by “support for terrorism”, the Trump administration has targeted some students who have protested in support of Palestine, arguing they had expressed antisemitic behaviour.
State Department officers were also instructed to screen for those “who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security; or who perpetrate unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence”.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in May that he estimated “thousands” of student visas had been rescinded since January.