US Revokes Over 6,000 International Student Visas Over Law Violations, Security Concerns
The US State Department has revoked more than 6,000 visas held by international students, citing violations of US law, overstays, and alleged links to terrorism.
Officials told the BBC that the “vast majority” of the infractions involved assault, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary, and what they described as “support for terrorism.” The department did not clarify its definition of the latter, though the Trump administration has recently targeted students who joined pro-Palestinian protests, claiming such actions reflect antisemitic behaviour.
Of the cancelled visas, roughly 4,000 were revoked for criminal activity, while between 200 and 300 were rescinded under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 3B, which defines terrorist activity broadly as acts that endanger human life or violate federal law.
The development is the latest in a series of measures under President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown. Earlier this year, the administration suspended visa appointments for foreign students, later resuming them in June with tougher vetting rules requiring applicants to disclose their social media accounts. Consular officers were also instructed to screen for individuals perceived as hostile to US institutions or supportive of designated foreign terrorist groups.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in May that “thousands” of student visas had already been rescinded and warned that “more” were likely. “We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities,” he said.
The move has drawn criticism from Democrats, who argue that the broad revocations undermine due process and unfairly target international students.
According to Open Doors, a US-based research organisation, more than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries were enrolled in American colleges during the 2023/24 academic year, making them a critical part of the country’s higher education system.
