The United States Department of State has canceled visas for more than 6,000 international students, citing violations of US law or overstaying their permitted duration. The announcement was made on Monday, August 18, and reported by BBC.
Of the canceled visas, around 4,000 were revoked due to legal violations, including assault, driving under the influence, theft, and providing support to terrorism.
While the State Department did not clarify what constitutes “support for terrorism,” the move has also targeted some students who protested in support of Palestine, with the administration arguing that their actions demonstrated anti-Semitic behavior. Approximately 200–300 visas were specifically canceled due to alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
The visa cancellations come amid stricter immigration and international student policies under the Trump administration. Earlier this year, the administration had suspended visa appointments for international students. When appointments resumed in June, all applicants were required to make their social media accounts public for review. Officials were instructed to screen accounts for any signs of hostility toward US citizens, culture, government, institutions, or core principles.
Senator Marco Rubio confirmed that “thousands” of students’ visas had been revoked since January and indicated that further actions might follow. On May 20, Rubio told lawmakers that the administration would continue canceling visas for individuals present in the US who disrupt higher education institutions.
According to Open Doors, over 1.1 million international students from more than 210 countries were enrolled in US colleges and universities during the 2023–24 academic year.
