Marco Rubio: U.S. Cancels Visas for 300 "Lunatics"

The U.S. Department of State under Secretary Marco Rubio has annulled a minimum of 300 international student visas as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to curb pro-Palestinian demonstrators on college grounds.

“Possibly over 300 by now,” he stated to journalists during his trip to Guyana. “I deal with them daily, each time I come across one of these crazies.”

Rubio was questioned about verifying the number of student visa revocations carried out by the administration as part of its campaign against what it views as anti-Israeli sentiment at colleges and universities.

The remarks follow immigration officials detention of a doctoral Turkish student attending Tufts University - an arrest the secretary defended.

A video showing student Rumeysa Ozturk being escorted away by masked plainclothes officers to an unregistered vehicle near Boston, Massachusetts, has circulated widely online and ignited protests.

Ms. Ozturk is a Fulbright Scholar enrolled with an F-1 student visa and is pursuing her doctorate in Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University.

Rubio was asked on Thursday why the Turkish student's visa was revoked.

I’ve stated this repeatedly, and I will continue to do so," Rubio explained. "Should someone apply for a student visa with the intention of not only studying but also engaging in activities such as defacing university property, intimidating fellow students, occupying buildings, and inciting disorder, they won’t be granted that visa.

It remains uncertain at this time if Ms. Ozturk has faced any charges.

Rubio didn't share any particular accusations against the individual, aged 30, who has taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Additionally, the Tufts University student jointly authored an op-ed in the college paper earlier stating that their institution should withdraw investments from firms connected to Israel and recognize what they term as "Palestinian genocide."

According to the trends observed nationwide, it seems that her use of her right to freedom of expression was a factor in her detainment,” stated Mahsa Khanbabai, who represents Ms. Ozturk, to Reuters.

This arrest is the latest in a string of actions taken against international students in the US who have expressed support for Palestinians.

Trump officials have said they are making use of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the State Department to deport non-citizens who are "adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests" of the US.

The arrests are a part of Trump's pledge to combat what the administration has classified as antisemitism, which was written into an executive order in January.

Since then, the White House has also revoked $400m (£308m) in Columbia funding over allegations the university failed to combat antisemitism on its campus, and threatened to do the same to other universities.

A high-profile arrest involves Mahmoud Khalil, an influential Palestinian activist and Columbia alumnus, who continues to be held at a detention center in Louisiana without being charged.

Ms. Ozturk was similarly transported to a detention center in Louisiana. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that Ms. Ozturk should remain in Massachusetts, yet federal documents indicate that she continues to be held in Louisiana.

The authorities have been instructed to furnish additional details about Ms Ozturk's detention by this coming Friday.

The US Homeland Security spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, stated earlier this week that Ms. Ozturk was involved in actions supporting Hamas, which she described as a foreign terrorist group known for its involvement in the deaths of Americans.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic representative from Massachusetts, described the arrest as "part of a disturbing trend aimed at suppressing civil liberties."

"The Trump administration is now going after students who have legal standing and forcibly removing individuals from their communities without proper procedures. This constitutes an assault on our Constitution and fundamental liberties — and we will resist," she stated.

On Wednesday, a federal judge instructed the Trump administration to stop its attempts to deport and apprehend an additional student named Yunseo Chung from Columbia University. The 21-year-old is a lawful permanent resident who came to the United States from South Korea at a young age.

On Thursday, Rubio stated that the U.S. provided visas for students aiming to obtain a degree rather than becoming activists who disrupt campus life.

"If you lie to obtain the visa and proceed with such behavior after arriving, we will cancel it," he stated.

• U.S. immigration authorities detain Turkish student as part of ongoing crackdown
• Who is Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian student activist who faces potential deportation from the US?
• Columbia student protester sues Trump to stop deportation