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Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
US State Department revokes 6,000 student visas
WASHINGTON — The State Department has revoked more than 6,000 international student visas because of violations of US law and overstays. The agency said the "vast majority" of the violations were 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. 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. 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. Earlier this year, the Trump administration paused scheduling visa appointments for international students. In June, when they restarted appointments, they announced they would ask all applicants to make their social media accounts public for enhanced screening. They said they would search for "any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States". 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 Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in May that he estimated "thousands" of student visas had been rescinded since January. "I don't know the latest count, but we probably have more to do," Rubio told US lawmakers on 20 May. "We're going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities." Democrats have pushed back against the Trump administration's effort to revoke student visas, describing it is an attack on due process. More than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries were enrolled in US colleges in the 2023-24 school year, according to Open Doors, an organisation that collects data on foreign students. — BBC
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
U.S. revokes over 6,000 student visas for crimes, terrorism links
The U.S. State Department has revoked more than 6,000 student visas over overstays and violations of American law, including serious crimes and terrorism-related activities, a senior official confirmed. Read Editorial: Pivot away: On U.S. student visas, Trump administration 'We can confirm the Fox News story that the State Department has revoked over 6,000 student visas for overstays and law violations, the vast majority being assault, DUI, burglary, and support for terrorism,' the official said on background. Of the total, about two-thirds were linked directly to criminal activity. 'Around 4,000 of those 6,000 visas were because these visitors broke the law,' the official noted. A smaller but significant number of revocations — between 200 and 300 — were related to terrorism. 'The approximately 200–300 visas revoked for terrorism were done so under INA 3B,' the official said, citing the section of the Immigration and Nationality Act dealing with terrorism and security grounds. The official did not provide details on the countries of origin of those whose visas were revoked, or whether they remain in the United States. Visa cancellations are part of the federal government's ongoing enforcement of immigration law and its efforts to mitigate national security risks. The measure underscores Washington's heightened scrutiny of student visa holders amid concerns about misuse of the U.S. education visa system for unlawful purposes. This article is published in an arrangement with
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Violation of law': US State Department revokes 6,000 international student visas
The United States Department of State has revoked over 6,000 international student visas after they were found to be in violation of US laws, including overstays, BBC News reported. The move comes amid President Donald Trump's latest crackdown on higher education and immigrants in the US. The State Department told the BBC that out of these 6,000 visa, about 4,000 of them were revoked because visitors broke the law, including cases of assault, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary, among others Another 200-300 visas were 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, BBC quoted. Since retaking office this year, Donald Trump has made consistent efforts to revamp higher education in the US, targeting the country's top universities and implementing a series of policy changes that have adversely affected international students. Firstly, the US President signed an executive order in January to combat 'antisemitism', where he pledged to deport non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests. Further in June, the Trump administration paused scheduling new interviews for international student visas, following which it required all foreign students applying to study in the US to undergo 'social media vetting'. As part of the vetting, consular officers are expected to look at posts, likes, comments and shares on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and X, to check for any signs of content they see as a national security threat. He also slashed university research fundings, arrested and detained many international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. It even got into a legal battle with Harvard University after blocking it from enrolling international students. The university had accused the White House of unconstitutional retaliation for defying its political demands. More than one million international students were studying in the US in the past year, contributing nearly $43.8 billion to the US economy, according to the NAFSA association. The foreign students contribute roughly to 6 per cent of the student population. The revocation comes just days before the new academic year begins, seemingly raising concerns that many students may not be able to reach the US in time.
