USA claims 300 student visas revoked, visa applicant screening stepped up

Following an executive order entitled ‘Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism’ issued on January 29th, there have been reports in the media of several arrests and visa revocations of international students who were engaged in pro-Palestine protests at university campuses.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed in a press conference in Guyana last week than more than 300 student visas have now been revoked.

“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,” he said, when asked to confirm the total of revocations. A transcript of the press conference is available on the Department of State website.

The Secretary was responding to a question about a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University who was reportedly arrested after writing an opinion piece on the war. A video of the arrest has been shared by news outlets and on social media.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Source – US Department of State, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Explaining the revocation of the student’s visa, he said, “Let me be abundantly clear, okay. If you go apply for a visa right now anywhere in the world – let me just send this message out – if you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student and you tell us that the reason why you’re coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, we’re not going to give you a visa. If you lie to us and get a visa and then enter the United States and with that visa participate in that sort of activity, we’re going to take away your visa.”

In a statement sent to StudyTravel Magazine, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, which represents more than 570 college and university leaders in the USA, condemned the detention of international students, faculty and staff, and called on the government to respect constitutional rights, including protection of speech and the guarantee of due process.

“Recent immigration enforcement operations – including apprehending and detaining international students and revoking student visas – appear to lack clear cause or be based on political speech or association and raise serious concerns about fairness, due process, freedom from arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement, and other constitutional protections. The government’s actions and rhetoric create an atmosphere of fear, threaten academic freedom, chill free expression, and jeopardize the well-being of non-citizen members of our campus communities.”

The association added that it strongly supports the right of local and international students to engage in peaceful expression.

“Upholding these principles strengthens – not undermines – our ability to foster the secure, inclusive, and vibrant academic communities that have made our nation a global leader,” the association said.

NAFSA Association of International Educators has published a page listing some of the high-profile arrests and subsequent legal challenges that have taken place in light of the Executive Order.

Social media screening: Meanwhile, The Guardian newspaper and other media outlets claim to have obtained a State Department cable from 25th March with a directive that states “evidence that an applicant advocates for terrorist activity, or otherwise demonstrates a degree of public approval or public advocacy for terrorist activity or a terrorist organization” can be grounds for visa rejection.

According to the outlet, the cable specifically targets new and renewing applications for F, M and J student visas, and requires officers to conduct mandatory social media reviews.

“Evidence that an applicant advocates for terrorist activity or otherwise demonstrates a degree of public approval or public advocacy for terrorist activity or a terrorist organization may be indicative of ineligibility,” the memo, sent by Secretary Rubio reportedly states. “This may be evident in conduct that bears a hostile attitude towards US citizens or US culture, including government institutions or founding principles.”

The memo also calls for the social media vetting of any students who were in the USA as of 7th October 2023.

The Axios news outlet, meanwhile, claims that it has been told by Justice Department and State Department officials that the government is discussing plans from to ban certain colleges from enrolling international students if it finds that too many students are ‘Pro-Hamas’.

Columbia University recently had US$400 million in federal contracts withheld until it agreed to demands to combat antisemitism and limit protests, and letters have been sent by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to 60 higher education institutions who are “presently under investigation for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination”, according to a Department press release.