Marco Rubio reveals why Trump admin is revoking visas of foreign students

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has offered an insider context on the Trump's administration tough stance on immigration, saying that US visas are a "privilege" and not a "right".

In an opinion piece for Fox News published on April 12, Rubio said that visiting America is not an entitlement but a "privilege" extended to those who respect its laws and values.

"US visas are a privilege, rather than a right, reserved for those who make the United States better, not seek to destroy it from the inside," Rubio wrote.

The remarks come amid an ongoing crackdown on pro-Palestine protests, particularly on college campuses, where foreign students have faced heightened scrutiny over alleged “antisemitic behavior” and participation in demonstrations against Israel.

The Trump administration has revoked several student visas in a crackdown on students taking part on the pro-Palestine protests. Among them is Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, a spokesperson for campus protests, who now faces deportation following a judge’s ruling.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the US government has broad powers to deny or revoke visas, particularly for individuals found to endorse or support terrorist organizations such as Hamas.

“Aliens who endorse or espouse terrorist activity or persuade others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization – such as Hamas – are ineligible for US visas,” Rubio stated.

Rubio said visa holders “should know in no uncertain terms that US government’s rigorous security vetting does not end once a visa is granted.”

He added that ongoing monitoring in cooperation with DHS and law enforcement is essential, and that visas may be revoked if holders violate the law or the terms of their stay.

“Visas may be revoked if the visa holder has engaged in violent crime or drunk driving, supporting terrorism, overstaying the time permitted for their visit, performing illegal work -- or anything else that violates the terms on which we granted them this privilege or compromises the safety of our fellow Americans,” Rubio wrote.

The Secretary also pointed to unrest following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, alleging that some foreign students engaged in “antisemitic activities and intimidation,” including harassing Jewish students, blocking highways, and storming buildings.

Rubio reaffirmed the administration’s position: “We will never hesitate to act decisively… when information indicates a visa holder could compromise our security, has violated US law, or visa revocation is otherwise warranted.”

“The Trump administration’s commitment to security and the enforcement of our immigration laws is unprecedented and unwavering,” he said.

Students challenge visa revocation

Meanwhile, several international students have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration in response to sudden visa revocations that they argue violated due process.

The legal challenges, including cases in Michigan, Georgia, California and New Hampshire, claim the Department of Homeland Security lacked justification for terminating student visas, leaving hundreds at risk of detention or deportation.

Schools impacted range from Ivy League institutions like Harvard and Columbia to large public universities such as Ohio State and the University of Maryland.

College leaders and immigration advocates have warned that the crackdown could deter international students from coming to the US, citing a lack of transparency and the abrupt nature of enforcement.