Rubio US Secretary of State: "Over 300 visas canceled for participants in anti-Israel protests"

"If We Find These Crazy People, We Cancel Their Visas... It Is Our Right"

U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio announced on the 27th (local time) that he has canceled more than 300 foreign visas of individuals who participated in anti-Israel protests on college campuses.

Reuters Yonhap News

During a press conference held in Guyana, South America, Rubio was asked about the number of visa cancellations for foreigners involved in anti-Israel protests spreading across U.S. college campuses following the Gaza war. He replied, "So far, it might be more than 300," adding, "Whenever we find these crazy people, we cancel their visas."

He explained, "Every country in the world has the right to decide whom to accept and whom to reject," and stated that visas will not be granted to those who participate in movements that destroy universities, harass students, and occupy buildings.

The Trump administration has accelerated the detention and deportation procedures for international students involved in the protests, including the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, who led protests at Columbia University, the epicenter of the anti-Israel demonstrations, on the 8th. Recently, the federal government also canceled approximately $400 million in federal aid and government contracts to Columbia University, citing its neglect of on-campus anti-Semitism. This move has sparked criticism from some quarters, arguing that it infringes on freedom of expression guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.