Secretary Rubio: Why Making America Safer Means Revoking Visas When Threats Arise

 Visiting America is not an entitlement. It is simply a privilege extended to those who respect our laws and values. And, arsenic Secretary of State, I will ne'er hide that.   

U.S. rule lays retired clear rules astir who tin and cannot travel to nan United States. The State Department’s consular officers are required to use these rules to each of nan millions of visa applicants astir nan world each year. Under nan Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), aliens who endorse aliases espouse violent activity aliases seduce others to endorse aliases espouse violent activity aliases support a violent statement – specified arsenic Hamas – are ineligible for U.S. visas.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTER MAHMOUD KHALIL CAN BE DEPORTED, JUDGE RULES

What’s more, nan INA gives america wide authority to revoke a visa. This authority is basal to safeguarding our nationalist security, arsenic good arsenic protecting Americans and lawful visitors wrong our borders. The Trump administration’s committedness to information and nan enforcement of our migration laws is unprecedented and unwavering. We expect – and nan rule requires – each visa holders to show their eligibility each time their visa is valid. This includes respecting our laws, behaving appropriately according to their visa type, and continuing to meet these standards passim their enactment successful our country.

U.S. visa holders should cognize successful nary uncertain position that nan U.S. government’s rigorous information vetting does not extremity erstwhile a visa is granted.

U.S. visa holders should cognize successful nary uncertain position that nan U.S. government’s rigorous information vetting does not extremity erstwhile a visa is granted. Working together pinch DHS and different law-enforcement and information agencies, we continuously show and reappraisal these cases. This vigilance is basal because circumstances tin and do change. For example, visas whitethorn beryllium revoked if nan visa holder has engaged successful convulsive crime aliases drunk driving, supporting terrorism, overstaying nan clip permitted for their visit, performing forbidden activity -- aliases thing other that violates nan position connected which we granted them this privilege aliases compromises nan information of our chap Americans. When accusation astir specified activities comes to nan department’s attention, our master unit reappraisal it and measure whether revocation is appropriate.

Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, who served arsenic a spokesperson for anti-Israel protesters astatine Columbia University, now faces deportation. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Recent events person underscored why our committedness to enforcing nan INA and protecting nationalist information is peculiarly captious today. There are complete 1.1 cardinal overseas students successful nan United States, including astatine our nation’s astir elite universities. In nan aftermath of the October 7, 2023 violent attacks against Israel, immoderate of these overseas student visitors engaged successful antisemitic activities and intimidation of Americans, galore who happened to beryllium of nan Jewish faith. These foreigners unopen down assemblage campuses for American citizens, harassed Jewish students, blocked highways, and stormed buildings. The Trump management is committed to taking nan basal steps to extremity these activities astatine American universities.

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As Secretary of State, I will proceed exercising my authority to support President Trump’s zero-tolerance attack to overseas nationals who abet violent organizations aliases participate successful activities that frighten our nationalist information aliases discuss a compelling overseas argumentation interest. The Supreme Court has made clear for decades that visa holders aliases different aliens cannot usage nan First Amendment to shield different impermissible actions taken to support designated overseas violent organizations for illustration Hamas, Hizballah, aliases nan Houthis, aliases break different U.S. laws. They will proceed to look consequences – including visa denial, revocation, aliases deportation.

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Our first work is to support nan American nationalist safe. While I americium Secretary, we will ne'er hesitate to enactment decisively – and successful adjacent coordination pinch our U.S. authorities partners – erstwhile accusation indicates a visa holder could discuss our security, has violated U.S. law, aliases visa revocation is different warranted. U.S. visas are a privilege, alternatively than a right, reserved for those who make nan United States better, not activity to destruct it from nan inside.