U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Tuesday that his department has likely revoked thousands of visas as part of the Trump administration’s heightened immigration enforcement efforts. Speaking during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Rubio acknowledged that visa cancellations—previously estimated at around 300—have surged significantly in recent months.
“I don’t know the latest count, but we probably have more to do,” Rubio stated, noting that he had personally signed off on each revocation. “A visa is not a right. It’s a privilege.”
The Secretary’s remarks come amid growing concern over the administration’s focus on individuals critical of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly those perceived to support Palestinian causes. The revocations have included both student and visitor visas, sparking bipartisan debate over civil liberties and due process.
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley criticized the policy as an “extraordinary violation,” arguing that visa decisions based on an individual’s views or perceived future actions undermine fundamental rights. “The idea that one individual could, on their opinion of someone’s future activity or expected activity, toss somebody’s visa, seems to me an extraordinary violation,” Merkley said.
The controversy follows a series of high-profile incidents, including the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University. Ozturk was held for more than six weeks in a Louisiana facility after co-authoring an op-ed critical of her university’s position on Israel’s military actions in Gaza. She was released on bail following a court order from U.S. District Judge William Sessions, who called for her immediate release.
Ozturk’s case has drawn national attention and fueled concerns that the administration’s actions amount to a politically motivated crackdown on dissent within academic institutions and immigrant communities.
As visa enforcement continues to intensify, lawmakers and civil rights advocates are pressing the administration for greater transparency and adherence to constitutional protections.
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