Marco Rubio fires back after Democrats criticize his student visa crackdown, declaring that foreign disruptors “have no right to be here.”
At a Glance
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked thousands of student visas over campus disruptions
- Democrat Sen. Chris Van Hollen slammed Rubio, saying he “regrets” confirming him
- Rubio fired back: “Your regret for voting for me confirms I’m doing a good job”
- The standoff highlights a stark divide over immigration, speech, and foreign policy
- Rubio stands firm: “A visa is not a right—it’s a privilege”
The Senate Smackdown
In a blistering exchange before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced down Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who publicly rescinded his confirmation vote. Rubio’s offense? Revoking student visas from foreign nationals allegedly leading disruptive protests and stoking violence on U.S. college campuses.
Watch a report: Rubio clashes with Van Hollen over visa policy | Fox News
“A Visa Is a Privilege”
Rubio’s policy has already canceled thousands of visas, including over 300 by March. He made his position plain: “A visa is not a right—it’s a privilege. If you’re coming to the U.S. to lead campus crusades, take over libraries, or try to burn down buildings, we are not going to give you a visa.” His firm stance earned applause from conservatives—and fury from the left.
Van Hollen retorted that Rubio’s actions “punish free speech,” comparing him to Joe McCarthy. Rubio, unfazed, quipped that Van Hollen’s regret “confirms I’m doing a good job.” Committee Chairman Jim Risch eventually cut off Van Hollen’s time, calling it “woefully used.”
The Ozturk Flashpoint
Democratic outrage centers on the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student whose visa was revoked after she wrote a controversial op-ed calling for divestment from Israel and accusing the U.S. of supporting “genocide.” Rubio’s team insists such activism crosses the line into foreign interference—a line he’s determined to hold.
Van Hollen denounced it as censorship; Rubio sees it as law enforcement. Their sharply opposed worldviews encapsulate the broader divide between open-border leniency and assertive national sovereignty.
Border Diplomacy with Teeth
Rubio’s foreign policy tenure hasn’t stopped at visas. He’s forged deals with El Salvador on migrant incarceration and reduced spending at USAID. When accused of triggering humanitarian fallout, he called claims of mass deaths from funding cuts “fake.” To Rubio, critics aren’t exposing flaws—they’re confirming his mission to recalibrate diplomacy with accountability.
In Rubio’s words: “We are here to serve Americans first.” If his critics are upset, he says, “it just means we’re doing something right.” Whether one sees him as a border hawk or a civil liberties threat, Rubio’s unapologetic style is redefining what America’s top diplomat can be.
