Hundreds of International Students Receive Emails from State Dept Telling Them to ‘Self-Deport’ Over Campus Activism

Hundreds of international students in the US have received emails from the Department of State (DOS) revoking their F-1 visas over alleged “anti-national” activities, including sharing or liking social media posts. The crackdown affects not just protesters but also those who engaged with activism online.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the revocations, saying, “It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day… Every country has a right to decide who comes in.” His office also launched an AI-powered app, Catch and Revoke, to detect students expressing support for Hamas or other designated terrorist groups. New student visa applicants are now also being scrutinized under these measures.
Emails sent to affected students ordered them to self-deport using the CBP Home App, warning that overstaying could lead to fines, detention, or deportation. The Bureau of Consular Affairs has alerted Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which may notify students’ schools. Those deported may be sent to countries other than their homeland and must reapply for a visa to return.
Rubio defended the policy, stating on CBS’s Face The Nation, “A visa is not a birthright… If you violate the terms of your visitation, you are going to leave.” The move has raised concerns about surveillance, free speech, and the use of AI in visa enforcement.

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