Washington: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that the United States has canceled at least 300 visas of foreign students as part of a crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters.
During his visit to Guyana, Rubio was asked by journalists about the number of visa cancellations related to anti-Israel sentiments on university campuses. He responded, "The number may now be over 300 because this process is ongoing daily whenever we identify individuals involved in such activities."
His statement comes after U.S. authorities arrested a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University. A viral social media video showed Romaysa Öztürk being taken away in an unmarked vehicle by plainclothes officers in Boston, Massachusetts.
Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in Child Study and Human Development at Tufts, was arrested under unclear circumstances, sparking outrage on social media. The specific charges against her have not been disclosed.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Secretary Rubio stated, "If you come to the U.S. on a student visa and engage in vandalism, harassment, occupation of buildings, or incitement to unrest, we will not allow you to stay."
Although Rubio did not specify the exact allegations against Öztürk, reports indicate that she previously wrote an article for the university newspaper advocating for divestment from Israeli companies and recognizing Palestinian genocide.
Öztürk’s lawyer, Mahsa, claims that her client’s arrest appears to be linked to her exercise of free speech.
The Trump administration has made it clear that under the Immigration and Nationality Act, non-citizens who act against U.S. foreign policy and national security interests can be deported.
In January, President Trump signed an executive order targeting anti-Semitism, leading to increased arrests and actions against individuals involved in such activities.
