The U.S. government has implemented an aggressive visa revocation program targeting international students, focusing on their social media activity and expressions of political views rather than academic performance.

Through an AI-powered social media monitoring system called "Catch and Revoke," over 300 student visas have been revoked without prior warning or hearings. The program scrutinizes F-1 visa holders' social media interactions, including likes, shares, and posts that might be interpreted as sympathetic to certain groups.

Notable cases include:

• Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral candidate, taken into custody without warning
• A Minnesota graduate student detained by ICE before their university was notified

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly stated they're "looking every day for these lunatics," particularly targeting students expressing views about issues like Gaza.

The crackdown has sparked significant opposition:

• Academic groups are filing lawsuits
• Critics compare it to McCarthyism with digital surveillance
• Universities worry about impacts on free speech and open debate

This policy shift represents a fundamental change in how the U.S. government approaches international student oversight, moving from academic monitoring to ideological surveillance. The implications extend beyond visa status, raising concerns about academic freedom and campus discourse.

Key Impact Points:

• No warning system before visa revocation
• AI monitoring of social media activity
• Immediate detention and deportation risks
• Targeting of political expression
• Limited legal recourse for affected students

This enforcement strategy signals a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy, particularly affecting academic institutions and international students' rights to free expression.

Related Articles

Previous Articles