6,000 student visas revoked by US State Department

The US State Department has revoked more than 6,000 international student visas, citing law violations, overstays, and alleged ties to terrorism, officials told the BBC.

According to the department, the “vast majority” of cases involved criminal offences such as assault, burglary, and driving under the influence (DUI). Between 200 and 300 visas were also cancelled under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s Section 3B, which defines “terrorist activity” as acts that endanger human life or violate US law.

The Trump administration has taken an especially tough stance on international students, linking some revocations to protests over Palestine. Officials have argued that certain demonstrations reflected antisemitic behaviour, which they classify as grounds for visa cancellation.

Earlier this year, the State Department paused student visa appointments, later resuming them in June with new requirements for applicants to make their social media accounts public. Officers were instructed to scrutinise online activity for evidence of hostility toward US citizens, culture, or institutions, as well as support for foreign terrorist groups or unlawful antisemitic conduct.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress in May that “thousands” of visas had already been rescinded since January, warning lawmakers that the administration intended to continue the crackdown.

Democrats, however, have criticised the policy, accusing the Trump administration of undermining due process and unfairly targeting foreign students.

Despite the revocations, the United States remains a top destination for higher education. More than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries were enrolled in US colleges during the 2023–24 academic year, according to Open Doors, a research organisation tracking foreign enrolment.