Crackdown on campus activism leads to visa cancellations and deportation warnings

Hundreds of international students in the United States have received emails from the Department of State (DOS), informing them that their visas have been revoked and instructing them to self-deport due to alleged involvement in campus activism.

Visa revocations tied to social media activity

The crackdown appears to extend beyond students who physically participated in activism. Reports indicate that even those who merely liked or shared ‘anti-national’ posts on social media have found themselves targeted by this enforcement action.

“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 As a result, your F-1 visa with expiration date XXXXX was revoked in accordance with Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended,” reads an email received by affected students, according to a report by The Times of India.

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The email further warns, “Remaining in the United States without a lawful immigration status can result in fines, detention, and/or deportation. It may also make you ineligible for a future U.S. 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.”

AI-driven visa crackdown under Secretary of State Marco Rubio

The DOS, along with U.S. consulates, has intensified social media reviews, affecting not only current visa holders but also new applicants under the F (academic study visas), M (vocational study visa), and J (exchange visa) categories.

A newly launched initiative, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is reportedly tightening restrictions further. According to Axios, Rubio’s AI-driven ‘Catch and Revoke’ program has already resulted in the cancellation of over 300 foreign student visas within three weeks. The United States currently hosts approximately 1.5 million student visa holders.

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Official defense of the policy

The visa revocations follow an internal directive issued on March 25 by Rubio, mandating social media screenings for both current students and new applicants.

Defending the policy at a press conference in Guyana, Rubio stated, “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, and creating a ruckus, we’re not going to give you a visa.”

The policy shift has sparked concerns among international students, educators, and immigration advocates, who argue that the broad criteria for visa revocation could unfairly target individuals for merely expressing opinions online.

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