The US State Department has revoked more than 6,000 international student visas for violating US laws and overstaying.
According to the BBC, most of the violations relate to assault, drunk driving, burglary and supporting terrorism. The move comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump continues its crackdown on immigration and international students.
While the State Department did not specify what it means by “supporting terrorism”, the Trump administration has targeted students who protested in support of Palestine, claiming they expressed anti-Semitic behavior.
Of the 6,000 student visas revoked, the State Department said about 4,000 were revoked because the visitors violated the law.
Another 200-300 visas were also revoked for “terrorism committed under INA 3B”, the State Department said, citing the law which defines “terrorist activity” as acts that endanger human life or violate US law.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration paused visa appointments for international students. In June, when they resumed appointments, they announced they would require all applicants to publicly disclose their social media accounts for enhanced vetting.
They said they would look for “any indication of hostility toward the people, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.”
State Department officials have also been ordered to screen those who aid or abet designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security, or who engage in unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence, the BBC reports.
