US Student Visa Revocation and Legal Violations
Students not adhering to the law of the land are facing massive action from the United States soil. Of late, the US State Department has reportedly revoked upwards of 6000 international student visas, pushing the students in deep crisis. The reason for revoking visas is that the students violated US law.
Violation of the US laws are being seen as serious by the State Department. Many students who had their visas revoked are facing charges for assault, driving under the influence, and burglary. Besides these, another charge a few of the face relates to what the State Department terms “support for terrorism“.
One might wonder what the students actually did and why they were classified under those who support terror groups. The explanation is that those students who have been charged are the ones who took to the streets in support of Palestine! The State Department has been quoted by the BBC, saying that the students displayed ‘antisemitic behaviour’.
US State Dept zeroes in on students supporting ‘terror activity’
As many as 300 visas have been ordered to be revoked as the State Department has slapped the charge of “terrorism done under INA 3B”. As per this law, it means that students charged engaged in “terrorist activity” which could endanger human life or violate US law.
A good number of student visas – almost 4000 of them out of the total 6000 – were revoked because the students had done things that amounted to breaking the law.
It has been reported that colleges in the United States have admitted over 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries in 2023-24 alone. These international students who fly to the US on student visas are now in a state of despair, as they are not very clear what all norms they would have to adhere to if they are to stay back and continue with their education.
Screening of international student applications intensifies
It was only a few months ago that President Donal Trump had put a halt on scheduling visa appointments for international students. This was lifted this June, and appointments resumed on the condition that all student applicants would have to make their social media accounts public for screening.
The move is aimed at screening the student applications for indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States. This apart, the Trump administration has directed the State Department to look closely for students who called for support of designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security. It is expected the screening will continue.