Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas,” declared Marco Rubio, as the U.S. State Department’s AI-driven crackdown leaves students stranded—punished not just for protests but for a mere ‘like’ on social media
Hundreds of international students in the U.S. have received emails from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) informing them that their F-1 student visas have been revoked due to campus activism. The crackdown extends beyond those who physically took part in protests, with reports indicating that students who merely shared or liked so-called “anti-national” posts have also been targeted.
Over the past several weeks, a handful of student visa holders and other legal residents have faced deportation for nebulous allegations that they supported terrorism—often being detained and taken away by immigration officials with seemingly no due process, or even an allegation of criminal wrongdoing. Shockingly, the number of affected individuals has reached into the hundreds. On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that he has personally intervened to cancel the visas of around 300 students.
“It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa.” Rubio said during a Thursday press conference. “At some point, I hope we run out because we’ve gotten rid of all of them, but, we’re looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up.”
“We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not become a social activist that tears up our university campuses. And if we’ve given you a visa and you decide to do that, we’re going to take it away,” Rubio added. “We don’t want it in our country. Go back and do it in your country. But you’re not going to do it in our country.
The email received by students from the authorities asked them to self-deport themselves using the CBP Home App that the US President Donald Trump administration launched on March 10.
“On behalf of the United States Department of State, the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office hereby informs you that additional information became available after your visa was issued. As a result, your F-1 visa with expiration date XXXXX was revoked in accordance with Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended,” the TOI reported, citing the email.
“The Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office has alerted the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which manages the Student Exchange Visitor Program and is responsible for removal proceedings. They may notify your designated school official about the revocation of your F-1 visa,” it added.
The document warned the student that if they stay in the United States without lawful immigration status, it could lead to fines, detention, and/or deportation.
“It may also make you ineligible for a future US visa. Please note that deportation can take place at a time that does not allow the person being deported to secure possessions or conclude affairs in the United States. Persons being deported may be sent to countries other than their countries of origin,” it further read.