In a striking update on U.S. immigration policy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Tuesday that his department has revoked “probably thousands” of visas as part of an aggressive crackdown under former President Donald Trump’s administration. The mass revocations, which Rubio admitted are still ongoing, are the latest in a string of actions that have sparked intense national debate on immigration rights, free speech, and foreign policy.
Speaking at a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing, Rubio was pressed on the extent of the visa cancellations. While he didn’t provide an exact figure, he estimated the total is likely in the thousands — a significant jump from his March estimate of over 300 revoked visas.
These cancellations include both student and visitor visas, and Rubio claimed personal responsibility for signing off on each action.
“A visa is not a right. It’s a privilege,” Rubio emphasized during the hearing, defending the department’s stance.
This move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader hardline immigration agenda, which has sought to increase deportations and crack down on foreign nationals deemed threats to U.S. interests.
The administration has particularly targeted individuals — including students and green card holders — who have expressed criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza or voiced support for the Palestinian cause. Officials have gone so far as to claim that such expressions align with Hamas ideology and undermine U.S. foreign policy.
Civil liberties advocates and political opponents are alarmed, arguing that the visa revocations are a violation of free speech and due process rights protected under the U.S. Constitution. Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, speaking at the same hearing, challenged Rubio on the legality of the mass cancellations.
“The idea that one individual, based on their opinion of someone’s expected behavior, could revoke a visa is an extraordinary violation of due process,” Merkley argued.
One of the most prominent cases highlighting this issue involves Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University. Ozturk was detained in a Louisiana immigration center for over six weeks after co-authoring an opinion piece criticizing her university’s stance on the Israel-Gaza war. Her case gained national attention, and a U.S. District Judge in Vermont ordered her immediate release earlier this month.
Judge William Sessions’s ruling brought a moment of relief to many activists and civil liberties advocates who see the crackdown as a dangerous precedent. As more stories emerge and legal battles unfold, critics warn that the administration’s approach may erode the fundamental freedoms that form the bedrock of American democracy.
For now, the State Department shows no signs of slowing down. With Secretary Rubio confirming the ongoing nature of the visa cancellations, many are left wondering how far this crackdown will go — and who might be next.
