More than 800 international students across the U.S. have had their visas revoked under a sweeping Trump administration policy targeting individuals accused of actions deemed contrary to national interests, including pro-Palestine protests and even minor traffic violations.
According to data compiled nationwide, visa revocations have impacted students and recent graduates from over 80 universities, including top-tier institutions like Harvard, Yale and Stanford. Several students have been detained directly on campus, with viral videos showing plainclothes officers approaching them for arrest and deportation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move aligns with the administration’s stance on curbing foreign nationals’ involvement in what it characterizes as disruptive or anti-American activities. "We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas," Rubio said at a March news conference, as reported by NBC News.
With approximately 1.1 million international students currently in the U.S., immigration lawyers and advocates said that many visa cancellations have been issued without prior notice. Most affected students had participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations, while others reportedly lost their visas for minor offenses such as speeding, BBC reported.
Legal experts argue that international students are entitled to free speech protections under the U.S. Constitution. However, their nonimmigrant status makes them more vulnerable to deportation.
While the Trump administration cited the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which allows the Secretary of State to revoke visas for actions that pose "serious adverse foreign policy consequences," legal scholars point out that a 1990 amendment restricts this power.
The amended law allows visa revocation only in rare instances, such as when noncitizens violate international agreements or incite immediate threats to Americans abroad.
Rubio said that student visas are intended strictly for academic purposes. He said those involved in protests that result in destruction of school property or harassment of peers could face deportation, meaning even students who do not directly cause damage can be targeted as well.
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