Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the revocation of student and visitor visas, stating that a visa is a gift and that they are being revoked due to activities that go against the national interest or foreign policy of the United States. President Trump had previously signed an executive order requesting recommendations for visa restrictions on countries with deficient vetting and screening information by March 21. However, this deadline has passed without any new date set for the implementation of these restrictions. The State Department is continuing to work on the report that would serve as the basis for these anticipated visa restrictions.
Various cases have emerged of individuals having their visas revoked including a Turkish graduate student, a Lebanese doctor, and a pro-Palestinian leader who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Senator Rubio stated that upwards of 300 student visas have been affected, with individuals being reviewed based on whether they would have been allowed a visa if the information known about them previously was available. Additionally, he mentioned that some individuals with criminal charges or involved in criminal activities were also found to have active visas.
The Trump administration had previously implemented travel bans on several Muslim-majority countries, which were upheld by the Supreme Court. However, the new visa restrictions have faced delays with no new date set for their implementation. The State Department is working to implement the standards of security and vetting required for entry into the United States suggested by the executive order.
