State Department Revokes More Than 6,000 Student Visas Amid Expanded Vetting, Official Says

The U.S. State Department has revoked more than 6,000 student visas so far this year, a State Department official said Monday, citing overstays and legal violations as the primary reasons. Roughly 4,000 of those revocations were tied to criminal offenses such as assault, DUI, and burglary, with about 200 to 300 pulled for alleged terrorism-related activity under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The moves, first reported by Fox News, come amid broader administration actions targeting universities and student visas. Officials have zeroed in on international students involved in protests over the war in Gaza, accusing some of antisemitism and support for terrorism. In a high-profile case, Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk had her visa canceled and was detained by ICE in March before a judge ordered her release in May.

In June, State instructed embassies and consulates to intensify screening of applicants for “hostile attitudes” toward U.S. citizens, culture, government, and institutions, and to request that applicants set their social media profiles to public. A cable noted limited visibility of online presence could be construed as an attempt to conceal activity.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the approach, saying there is no right to a student visa and that revocation is appropriate if disqualifying information emerges after issuance.

About 400,000 F-1 student visas were issued in fiscal year 2024, according to the State Department. With appointments temporarily suspended and new vetting in place, far fewer are expected this year. An analysis by NAFSA: Association of International Educators and JB International projects a 30–40 percent drop in new international student enrollment and a 15 percent decline in overall enrollment this fall, potentially reducing local economic activity by $7 billion and more than 60,000 jobs. Without a late surge in issuances, up to 150,000 fewer students may arrive, the analysis warns.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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