The State Department has canceled more than 6,000 student visas so far this year, according to an official who spoke Monday. The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to
tighten oversight of international students in the U.S.
Most of the revoked visas were tied to legal violations. Roughly 4,000 cases involved students accused of crimes such as assault, burglary, or driving under the influence. Around 200 to 300 visas were canceled under terrorism-related provisions of immigration law, which can bar foreign nationals from entering or staying in the U.S. if they are suspected of ties to extremist activity.
The crackdown, first reported by *Fox News*, comes as the administration has taken a harder line on universities and foreign students, particularly those active in protests over the war in Gaza. Officials have accused some protesters of antisemitism or supporting terrorism.
One case that drew national attention was that of Tufts University PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk. Her visa was revoked earlier this year, and she was detained by federal agents before being released by a judge in May.
In June, the State Department instructed embassies and consulates to apply stricter vetting standards for student visa applicants. These include reviewing applicants’ social media profiles and assessing whether they hold “hostile attitudes” toward U.S. citizens, culture, or institutions. The guidance suggested that private accounts or limited online presence could be seen as suspicious.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s approach in an August interview. “There is no constitutional right to a student visa,” Rubio said. “If we later discover something that would have led us to deny a visa in the first place, we have every right to revoke it.”
The policy shift has raised concerns in higher education. About 400,000 F-1 student visas were issued in 2024, but far fewer are expected this year due to temporary suspensions of new visa appointments and the tougher screening measures.
A recent analysis by NAFSA: Association of International Educators predicted that new international student enrollment could fall by as much as 40 percent this fall. That drop, the group warned, could cost local economies an estimated \$7 billion in spending and more than 60,000 jobs.
“Without a rebound in visa processing over the summer, as many as 150,000 fewer students may arrive in the U.S. this fall,” NAFSA cautioned. Photo by Muzi, Wikimedia commons.
