The United States revokes more than 6,000 visas issued to international students, citing violations of American law and overstays, the State Department confirmed to the media. Officials said that the majority of cases involved criminal offences such as assault, driving under the influence, burglary, and in some instances, allegations of supporting terrorism.
The mass revocation comes against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s intensified stance on immigration and stricter scrutiny of foreign students studying in the US. While the department did not elaborate on what constituted “support for terrorism,” critics say the administration has increasingly targeted students who have publicly demonstrated support for Palestine, often framing such expressions as antisemitic behaviour.
Of the visas revoked, around 4,000 were linked directly to criminal activity, according to the State Department. Another 200 to 300 were cancelled under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which broadly defines terrorism as acts that endanger human life or contravene US law. This legal framework has long been criticised for being expansive and, in some cases, ambiguous.
The crackdown follows earlier measures rolled out by the administration that made the visa process for international students more restrictive. Earlier in the year, appointments for student visas had been temporarily suspended and when reintroduced in June, applicants were required to make their social media accounts public for review. The move, according to the government, was aimed at identifying individuals who may express hostility toward American citizens, its institutions, or governing principles. Officers processing applications were instructed to pay close attention to any sign of sympathy or support for organisations designated as foreign terrorist groups, as well as any history of antisemitic violence or harassment.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking before lawmakers in May, indicated that thousands of visas had already been revoked since January, while hinting that the figure could rise further. “I don’t know the latest count, but we probably have more to do,” Rubio remarked, adding that the administration would continue targeting students whose actions were seen as disruptive to higher education spaces in the country.
The policy has, however, met strong resistance from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates, who argue that the sweeping cancellations amount to an erosion of due process and unfairly target specific groups of students. They warn that the steps risk undermining the country’s reputation as a global destination for education and research.
According to Open Doors, an organisation that tracks data on foreign students, more than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries were enrolled in American universities and colleges during the 2023–24 academic year. The revocations, therefore, represent a small but significant portion of the student population, raising concerns about how US campuses may be reshaped by the administration’s aggressive approach toward international enrolments.
