US Silent on Reports of 4,000 Student Visas Revoked Under Trump Administration

 

Washington D.C. - The United States Department of State has declined to comment on reports circulating about the alleged revocation of 4,000 student visas during the initial months of the Trump administration.

According to a report by The New York Post, these visa cancellations targeted foreign national students reportedly involved in criminal activities, including offenses such as assault, arson, robbery, and driving under the influence.

During a recent press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed the publication but refrained from confirming any specific numbers. "Certainly I wouldn’t comment on a number that has been printed somewhere," Bruce stated. "We do not provide statistics. We do not discuss numbers. What I can tell you is that it’s something that we don’t provide."

The report also suggests that the Trump administration is focusing on students who participated in anti-Israel protests last spring, which followed military action in Gaza after the Hamas attacks in October 2023.

This development comes amidst the case of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, who was recently released on bail after a judge ordered his release from federal immigration custody. Mahdawi, a 34-year-old U.S. permanent resident who organized pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia in 2014, was arrested by DHS agents during his naturalization interview in mid-April. He was subsequently held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Vermont.

Following his release, Mahdawi declared his defiance towards the Trump administration, stating, "I am saying it clear and loud to President Trump and his cabinet: I am not afraid of you."

In response to the judge's decision, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the government's commitment to upholding immigration law. "It is a privilege to be granted a visa or green card to live and study in the United States of America," McLaughlin stated. "When you advocate for violence, glorify and support terrorists that relish the killing of Americans, and harass Jews, that privilege should be revoked."

The State Department's silence on the reported visa revocations leaves many questions unanswered, raising concerns about the transparency and scope of the Trump administration's actions regarding international students in the United States.