Harare Correspondent
HARARE – The United States State Department has confirmed the revocation of over 6,000 visas held by international students, citing violations of U.S. law, including serious crimes and “support for terrorism.”
According to the department, the “vast majority” of the violations leading to the cancellations were for criminal offences such as assault, driving under the influence (DUI), and burglary. A further 200-300 visas were specifically revoked under a broad legal definition of “terrorist activity.”
The move is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on immigration and its heightened scrutiny of international students. While the State Department did not explicitly define “support for terrorism,” the administration has previously targeted students who have protested in support of Palestine, accusing them of antisemitic behaviour.
This policy shift has been met with significant criticism. Democrats in the U.S. have pushed back, describing the effort as an attack on due process and questioning the vague criteria used for revocation.
The State Department has defended its actions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in May,
“We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities.” He estimated at the time that “thousands” of visas had already been rescinded since the start of the year.
The enhanced screening extends to new applicants. As of June, all student visa applicants are required to make their social media accounts public for review. State Department officers are instructed to screen for those who exhibit “hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.”
This development impacts a substantial community. Over 1.1 million international students from more than 210 countries were enrolled in U.S. colleges during the 2023-24 academic year.
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