The Trump administration has cancelled more than 6,000 student visas, citing overstays, legal violations, and, in a small number of cases, support for terrorism, a US State Department official said on Monday. The move is part of a broader hard-line approach toward student visas, which has included tighter social media checks and expanded screening of applicants abroad.
Around 4,000 of the revoked visas were linked to criminal offences such as assault, burglary, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The remaining 200 to 300 were revoked under rules that bar entry to individuals “engaging in terrorist activities” or having links to terrorist organisations, the official said. The State Department did not specify which groups were involved.
The visa cancellations come amid tensions between President Donald Trump and several top US universities. Trump has accused some institutions of fostering antisemitism following large-scale student protests in support of Palestinian rights during the Gaza conflict. The administration has directed US diplomats to be vigilant in screening applicants with histories of political activism or perceived hostility toward the United States.
