Marco Rubio says US has cancelled 300 visas of 300 'lunatics'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US has revoked at least 300 foreign students' visas. This action is part of President Donald Trump's effort to address pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.

Rubio mentioned, "Maybe more than 300 at this point," during a visit to Guyana. He stated, "We do it every day, every time I find one of these lunatics."

He was asked about the number of student visas revoked due to anti-Israeli rhetoric at universities. His comments followed the detention of a Turkish doctoral student from Tufts University.

The student, Rumeysa Ozturk, was arrested by masked officers outside Boston. A video of her arrest has gone viral and sparked online protests.

Ozturk is a Fulbright Scholar on an F-1 visa. She is pursuing a doctorate in Child Study and Human Development at Tufts.

Rubio explained why Ozturk's visa was revoked. He said, "If you apply for a student visa and say you're coming not just to study but to participate in chaos, we're not giving you that visa."

It remains unclear if Ozturk has been charged with any crime. Rubio did not specify allegations against her despite her participation in pro-Palestinian protests.

Ozturk co-wrote an opinion piece calling for Tufts to divest from companies linked to Israel. Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, stated that her free speech rights likely contributed to her detention.

This incident is part of broader actions against international students supporting Palestinians in the US. Trump officials cite the Immigration and Nationality Act as justification for deporting non-citizens deemed adversarial to US interests.

These arrests align with Trump's commitment to combat antisemitism outlined in an executive order issued in January. The White House also revoked $400 million in funding from Columbia University over alleged failures to address antisemitism on campus.

One notable case involves Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist detained without charges in Louisiana. Ozturk was also taken there but should have been detained in Massachusetts according to a federal judge's order.

The government must provide more information about Ozturk's arrest by Friday. Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin claimed she supported Hamas, labeled as a terrorist organization.

Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the arrest as part of an alarming trend against civil liberties. She stated that the Trump administration targets legal students without due process.

On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered the halt of deportation efforts against another student, Yunseo Chung from Columbia University. Chung is a legal permanent resident who moved from South Korea as a child.

Rubio reiterated that student visas are meant for earning degrees and not for activism disrupting campuses. He warned that lying on visa applications would lead to revocation if such behavior occurs after arrival.