Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Visa Revocation Efforts
In a recent statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that he has signed over 300 letters to revoke the visas of students, visitors, and various individuals, aiming to expel them from the United States. This decisive action is primarily driven by concerns over their foreign policy views or involvement in criminal activities.
Since assuming office in late January, Mr. Rubio has been diligently signing these revocation letters on a daily basis. Speaking to reporters aboard an Air Force passenger jet en route from Paramaribo, Suriname, to his home in Miami, he shared insights from his recent three-nation tour across the Caribbean and South America.
“I’m not entirely sure if the majority of these cases involve student visas,” Mr. Rubio stated. “It encompasses a variety of visa types. These individuals are visitors in our country, and if they engage in activities that oppose our national interests or foreign policy, we will take action to revoke their visas.”
Moreover, Mr. Rubio emphasized his personal involvement in the process, indicating that he reviews each case meticulously before authorizing actions to be executed by immigration agents. He further noted that a visa holder charged with a crime in the United States should automatically face the revocation of their visa.
In addition to targeting visa holders, Mr. Rubio is also taking measures to expel permanent U.S. residents by revoking their green cards. He articulated his standard for these decisions: “If we had known this information about them before granting their visa, would we still have allowed them entry? If the answer is no, then we proceed to revoke the visa.”
When pressed about the methods by which cases are brought to his attention, Mr. Rubio opted not to disclose specific details. “We’re not going to discuss the process of how we identify these individuals because we are actively seeking more cases,” he concluded.
