Washington:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday that the number of visas he has revoked is likely in the thousands, indicating that there is more to be done in this regard.
The Trump administration, under Republican President Donald Trump, has been focused on increasing deportations and revoking student visas as part of its strict immigration policies.
“I don’t have the exact count, but there is still work to be done,” Rubio stated during a Senate appropriations subcommittee meeting that oversees foreign affairs.
When asked for an estimation, Rubio mentioned that the number of revoked visas is likely in the thousands at this point, which is a significant increase from the figure reported in March when over 300 visas were mentioned.
Rubio clarified that the revoked visas included both student and visitor visas, and he personally approved each action.
“A visa is not a right, it’s a privilege,” Rubio emphasized.
Trump administration officials have justified deportations of student visa and green card holders based on their support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, citing these actions as a threat to U.S. foreign policy and labeling them as pro-Hamas.
Critics of Trump’s policies have raised concerns about the infringement on free speech rights protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
During the hearing, Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley raised objections to the arbitrary revocation of visas based on individuals’ future activities without due process.
Recently, a Tufts University student from Turkey was detained for over six weeks in an immigration center in Louisiana for co-authoring an opinion piece critical of her school’s response to the conflict in Gaza. She was released on bail following a federal judge’s decision.
U.S. District Judge William Sessions in Vermont ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk, highlighting one of the prominent cases arising from Trump’s campaign to deport pro-Palestinian activists on American campuses.
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