The US State Department has revoked more than 6,000 international student visas, citing violations of US law and visa overstays.
Officials said most cases involved crimes such as assault, burglary, and driving under the influence, while several hundred visas were pulled for alleged links to terrorism. The department noted that around 4,000 students lost their visas after breaking US law. Another 200–300 visas were revoked under “INA 3B,” which broadly defines terrorist activity as acts that endanger lives or violate US laws.
The decision reflects the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration and international students. Some visa cancellations targeted students who expressed support for Palestine, which officials claimed amounted to antisemitic behavior.
Earlier this year, the administration paused visa appointments for foreign students and later resumed them with stricter rules. Applicants must now make social media accounts public, allowing officials to check for hostility toward US citizens, government, or institutions. Officers were also instructed to screen for anyone who advocates for or supports designated terrorist groups or engages in antisemitic harassment.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in May that “thousands” of visas had been revoked since January, and more would likely follow. “We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities,” Rubio said.
Democrats criticized the move, arguing it undermines due process and unfairly targets students.
More than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries studied in US colleges during the 2023–24 school year, according to Open Doors, an organization tracking foreign student enrollment.
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