U.S. Authorities Revoke Visas of Over 300 Foreign Students

According to Rubio, more than 300 students have had their visas revoked. He stated that student visas are issued solely for educational purposes, and participation in political activities constitutes a violation of visa conditions. In such cases, students lose their legal status and face deportation.

This statement followed the detention of Turkish citizen Rumeysa Öztürk, a student at Tufts University, and Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian-born graduate student at the University of Alabama. Officials cited a rarely used provision of immigration law to justify their arrests, claiming that their actions could pose a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests.

In response, faculty unions and human rights activists have filed lawsuits, arguing that the arrests violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and assembly. Critics have also condemned unclear government explanations, including former President Donald Trump’s statements about “illegal protests.” Additionally, they view the threat to strip Columbia University of federal funding as an attack on students’ rights.

However, Secretary of State Rubio defended the government’s actions, stating that students occupied buildings and caused disorder during protests. He warned that visas of those involved in such actions would continue to be revoked.

Experts warn that these measures could discourage international students from choosing the U.S. for their studies. In recent years, due to stricter immigration policies, many foreign students have opted to study in other countries, particularly the United Kingdom.