The US Department of State, under Secretary Marco Rubio, has been taking a firm stance on foreign students who engage in activities deemed disruptive to American higher education institutions. This includes revoking visas from those who criticize Israel or participate in campus protests. Since January, Rubio estimates that over 3,000 visas have been revoked.
A recent case highlighted by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen involves Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was arrested and detained after writing an opinion piece criticizing Tufts University's stance on Gaza. Rubio defended his actions, stating that he targets students leading "campus crusades" that disrupt institutions.
This approach has been met with criticism from some quarters, with Senator Van Hollen accusing the Secretary of violating free speech and due process protections.