In a sweeping effort to reassert control over America’s student visa system, the Trump administration has revoked the visas of 4,000 foreign students— a stunning number made more alarming by the revelation that 90% of them had serious criminal records, according to multiple senior State Department sources.
The operation, spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement actions taken during the first 100 days of Trump’s second term—and signals a sharp pivot from past administrations’ softer approach to foreign student oversight.
“Our visa system has lacked oversight and accountability,” a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital. “We established an action working group, which has resulted in thousands of visas being revoked because these individuals broke our laws.”
The revoked visas weren’t the result of bureaucratic technicalities or minor infractions. According to the New York Post, many of the students were tied to serious criminal offenses, including:
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Arson
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Child endangerment
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Domestic abuse
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Human and wildlife trafficking
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DUI
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Robbery
In fact, over 500 students had criminal assault records. Federal sources say these individuals were either arrested and convicted or had clear records of criminal conduct verified through law enforcement databases.
One insider put it bluntly:
“They came, and they were breaking the law with no consequences… That ends now.”
While the bulk of revocations focused on serious criminal behavior, the administration has also begun pulling visas from foreign students involved in anti-Israel protests, particularly those accused of vandalism or disorderly conduct on university campuses. The Department of State confirmed these actions are part of the administration’s broader crackdown on foreign nationals abusing the privileges of their student visas.
Secretary Rubio emphasized the principle in stark terms:
“A student visa is like me inviting you into my home. If you come into my home and put all kinds of crap on my couch, I’m going to kick you out of my house. And so, you know, that’s what we’re doing with our country.”
The crackdown was enabled by interagency coordination between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, which used integrated databases to cross-reference student visa holders with criminal histories and ongoing investigations.
While the visa revocation process is ongoing and dynamic, officials emphasized that only serious violations are triggering action. Minor infractions such as littering or dismissed charges were not included in the sweep.
“This is what effective governance looks like,” a senior State Department source said.
Most of the affected students reportedly came from Asia and the Middle East, and many have already left voluntarily or are now awaiting deportation proceedings.
While critics are sure to raise concerns about potential racial or political profiling, administration officials were clear: this isn’t about background, it’s about behavior.
“Every prospective traveler to the United States undergoes interagency security vetting,” said a State Department spokesperson. “Prohibiting entry to those who might pose a threat… is key to protecting U.S. citizens.”
The Trump administration’s approach stands in sharp contrast to the previous administration’s visa policies. Under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the message is unmistakable: student visas are a privilege, not a right, and abuse of that privilege—whether through crime or radical activism—will not be tolerated.
