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The Trump administration has revoked the visas of six foreign nationals accused of making derogatory or mocking remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the State Department said Tuesday.
Officials said the decision followed a review of social media posts and videos that referenced Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at a Utah college campus on Sept. 10.
The announcement came as President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him “a great American hero” and “a martyr for freedom.”
The six foreigners — from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, and South Africa — were not identified. The State Department said they “took advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens.”
“President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will defend our borders, our culture, and our citizens by enforcing our immigration laws,” the department said in a statement. “Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed.”
Administration officials and conservative activists have rallied around Kirk’s legacy, but the broad sweep of enforcement actions has drawn criticism from civil rights groups who say the administration is punishing speech protected under the First Amendment.
Vice President JD Vance and other top officials have urged Americans to report offensive or mocking comments about Kirk posted online. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau even encouraged users on X, formerly Twitter, to tag him directly, saying he was “disgusted” by posts “praising or rationalizing” the assassination and had “directed consular officials to undertake appropriate action.”
Beyond the six visa revocations, the administration has stepped up efforts to identify and remove foreigners accused of inciting unrest or supporting anti-Israel protests, and to deny visas to applicants whose social media history shows criticism of U.S. policy.
Among the most high-profile actions, the administration has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington for remarks critical of Trump, revoked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s visa to attend the U.N. General Assembly, and canceled the visas of British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan. Officials said they are reviewing the status of more than 55 million current visa holders for possible violations.
Civil rights organizations have condemned the measures as violations of free speech, noting that the Constitution’s protections extend to everyone within U.S. borders, regardless of citizenship.
