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The U.S. State Department has revoked more than 6,000 student visas in recent months, citing violations of U.S. law ranging from alcohol-related offenses to alleged terrorism support, officials confirmed Monday.
A State Department official, speaking on background, said two-thirds of the visa cancellations stemmed from criminal violations including assault, driving under the influence, and burglary. Between 200 and 300 of the revoked visas were tied to allegations that students had engaged in “support for terrorism” under federal statutes. The department did not clarify whether those cases involved accusations, arrests, charges, or convictions.
Fox News first reported the mass visa cancellations.
Small fraction of international students
The more than 6,000 revoked visas represent a small portion of the 1.1 million foreign students who studied at U.S. colleges and universities during the 2023–24 academic year, according to federal data. Still, the revocations highlight heightened scrutiny of foreign students during President Donald Trump’s second term.
The Trump administration has aggressively targeted international students participating in pro-Palestinian protests and universities that permit such demonstrations. In one widely publicized case, Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk was taken into ICE custody after her visa was revoked following publication of an op-ed critical of U.S. policy in the Middle East. She spent six weeks in detention before her visa was restored.
Expanded screening measures
Alongside revocations, Trump officials have tightened rules for foreign student visa applicants. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced in April that international students would face expanded social media screenings for antisemitic or extremist content. The State Department also now requires applicants to keep their profiles public during the application process.
The State Department did not immediately respond to questions about the criteria for revocations or the nature of the terrorism-related allegations.
