In a forceful demonstration of its immigration agenda, the Trump administration has revoked the US visas of more than 4,000 international students during its first 100 days in office, with most linked to criminal conduct ranging from assault and robbery to trafficking and child endangerment.
The move marks one of the most aggressive student visa crackdowns in US history and sends a clear message from the Trump White House: zero tolerance for foreign nationals breaking US law or disrupting public order.
“They came and they were breaking the law with no consequences,” a senior State Department official told The Post. “We set up a special action team to handle this.”
Crimes triggering visa revocation
More than 90% of the students whose visas were cancelled had criminal records, according to officials. The offenses included:
- Arson
- Domestic abuse
- Child endangerment
- Wildlife and human trafficking
- DUI
- Robbery
- Over 500 cases of assault
The administration said it limited revocations to “serious” cases only. Misdemeanors like littering or charges that were dropped were excluded from the operation.
The data was collected through coordination between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, using law enforcement databases to flag student visa holders with open or resolved criminal charges.
Rubio: ‘Student visa is a privilege, not a right’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has led the administration’s visa enforcement efforts, tied the visa revocations to broader national security and ideological concerns—including growing unrest on college campuses.
“No one’s entitled to a student visa,” Rubio said during a recent cabinet meeting. “If you come to this country as a student, we expect you to go to class and study and get a degree. If you come here to vandalize a library, take over a campus, and do all kinds of crazy things, we’re going to get rid of these people.”
Rubio pointed to anti-Israel protests at universities, many of which involved international students, as part of the administration’s motivation for tighter scrutiny.
More visa categories may be targeted
While the focus so far has been on students, a State Department source indicated that other visa categories may also come under review.
“Perhaps in the future other visa categories, not just students, will be looked at,” the official said.
This aligns with other steps the Trump administration has taken in its first 100 days to tighten immigration controls—from birthright citizenship challenges in court to expanded ICE raids and entry bans on certain nationalities.
Due process concerns, global fallout
Some immigration lawyers argue that the visa revocation campaign has swept up individuals who were never convicted or had pending cases later dismissed. They warn that such actions risk undermining due process and US higher education’s international reputation.
Meanwhile, reports of visa denials, secondary screenings, and detentions at American airports are rising, causing anxiety among tourists and students alike. Universities have raised concerns about the impact on international enrollment and campus diversity.
