In a decisive move to restore order on American campuses, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that over 300 student visas have been revoked from foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestinian activism tied to antisemitic and pro-Hamas demonstrations.
Speaking to i24NEWS, Rubio confirmed that the Biden-era leniency is over. “Maybe more than 300 at this point,” Rubio said. “We do it every day, every time I find one of these lunatics.”
The cancelled visas are part of a sweeping federal crackdown ordered by President Donald Trump, aimed at dismantling the growing wave of antisemitic agitation that has overtaken college campuses since the October 7 massacre in Israel.
“It was crazy to allow in students who are supportive of a group that just slaughtered babies,” Rubio said, referring to Hamas’ brutal attack that killed over 1,200 people—the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
Rubio emphasized that visas are not entitlements, but privileges fully within the discretion of the State Department. “At some point I hope we run out because we’ve gotten rid of them,” he added.
Unlike deportation proceedings, visa revocations occur without judicial review, a legal reality that gives the State Department sweeping power to act swiftly against foreign students found to be supporting terror-linked or antisemitic movements.
The Trump administration has made clear that it draws a sharp line between dissent and dangerous extremism. Asked if students would lose visas over political disagreements, Rubio responded: “If you’re complaining about paper straws, we’re obviously not going to yank a visa over that.”
The move is the strongest signal yet that the federal government is not only watching campus activism—it is actively dismantling it when it crosses into support for violence, terrorism, or hate.