Secretary of State Marco Rubio took no prisoners when asked about the recent arrest and deportation of pro-Hamas student Rumeysa Ozturk. The recent visa revocation of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk has ignited a fierce debate about the limits of free speech for international students on American soil.
At a glance:
• Turkish PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by federal authorities and had her visa revoked after writing an op-ed criticizing Tufts University’s ties to Israel
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the action, stating visas are for studying, not for becoming social activists
• Approximately 300 visas have been revoked targeting individuals who disrupt peace on campuses
• The Department of Homeland Security claims Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, though specific evidence has not been publicly disclosed
• The policy also targets gang members from groups like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua as part of broader security measures
Rubio Defends Tough Stance on Foreign Student Activists
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is making no apologies for the Trump administration’s crackdown on foreign students engaging in disruptive activism on American campuses. The recent case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University who had her visa revoked after criticizing the university’s ties to Israel, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate about campus protests and national security.
Video footage showing Ozturk being detained by plain-clothes federal officers and taken away in an unmarked van has gone viral, sparking both outrage and support across political lines. The arrest was part of a broader effort that has targeted at least eight international students and faculty involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on American campuses.
Rubio has refused to back down and has defended the policy with vigor.
“We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campus,” Rubio said.
He’s not wrong, is he?
Rubio warns visas will be revoked for all foreign student ‘activists’ amid Tufts arrest https://t.co/13eLJxpffM
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 27, 2025
National Security Concerns Beyond Campus Activism
The Department of Homeland Security has alleged that Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, though specific evidence supporting this claim has not been publicly disclosed. Her case is part of a larger pattern, with approximately 300 visas already revoked under the policy targeting individuals deemed disruptive to campus peace and potential threats to national security.
“I don’t care what movement you’re involved in,” Rubio said.
Rubio also stressed that the right to determine who enters the country is fundamental to national sovereignty. “Every country in the world has a right to decide who comes in as a visitor and who doesn’t,” he added.
Broader Crackdown on Undesirable Foreign Presence
The visa revocation policy extends beyond campus activists to include gang members from notorious groups like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. According to Rubio, some of these individuals were initially detained at Guantánamo Bay before being sent back to their countries of origin, demonstrating the administration’s comprehensive approach to removing foreign nationals deemed threats to American security and stability.
Tufts University officials have noted they were not informed prior to Ozturk’s arrest, which occurred off campus. The case has highlighted growing tensions between academic institutions that often promote free expression and government agencies prioritizing national security concerns in an increasingly complex global environment.
