'We do it every day' Rubio boasts about US deporting pro-Palestinian activists
Washigton DC: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed the revocation of over 300 visas in a sweeping crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism, vowing to continue the policy despite outrage over the detention of a Turkish student. The move, part of the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on campus protests, has sparked legal and political controversy.
Speaking in Guyana, Marco Rubio revealed that he personally signed off on visa revocations targeting foreign students allegedly involved in anti-Israel activism. The policy, he asserted, aims to remove individuals who engage in protests that disrupt campus environments.
Rubio dismissed concerns over freedom of speech, stating that student visas are a privilege, not a right. He emphasized that "lunatics" supporting groups like Hamas should not be in the United States, referring to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Turkish student’s arrest fuels controversy
The deportation case of Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk has drawn widespread condemnation after a viral video showed masked DHS agents detaining her near Tufts University. Ozturk, who had penned a column criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide", is now being held in Louisiana despite a court order for her to remain in Massachusetts.
Ozturk’s lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, accused the Department of Homeland Security of unlawful detention and denying her access to legal counsel. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called the arrest a "horrifying violation" of constitutional rights, demanding Ozturk’s immediate release.
Rubio, however, stood by the decision, stating that Ozturk met the criteria for visa revocation but declined to provide further details. He reiterated that the State Department holds sole discretion over visa approvals and that its decisions are not subject to judicial review.
Crackdown extends to other activists
The Trump administration’s student visa crackdown follows months of protests on US college campuses over the Gaza war. The highest-profile case so far is Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University protest leader, who is also facing deportation despite being a US permanent resident.
While Khalil’s supporters argue that he does not support Hamas, Rubio maintains that student activism has made university life “intolerable” for Jewish students.
"If you're coming to the US not just to study but to participate in movements that vandalize universities and harass students, we're not going to give you a visa," Rubio said.
Despite growing backlash, the Trump administration appears determined to push forward with its hardline approach to student activism, raising concerns about the future of free speech and political dissent on US campuses.