US secretary of state defends visa revoking after activist's arrest

ISTANBUL

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Sunday that the US will continue to revoke visas and green cards for individuals linked to Hamas, following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, an activist detained by federal immigration authorities.

During an appearance on CBS News' Face the Nation, Rubio reiterated that those engaging in activities that contradict US foreign policy, particularly "pro-Hamas events," would not be allowed to remain in the country.

Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8 at his university-owned apartment.

The arrest followed an order from Secretary Rubio to revoke his student visa and green card. The Trump administration has accused Khalil, who played a prominent role in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the school last year, of engaging in “activities aligned with Hamas,” although no evidence has been provided.

He is currently being held at an ICE detention center in Louisiana.

Rubio defended the administration’s actions, saying that when applying for his visa, if Khalil had stated his intention to enter the country was to become a “spokesperson and one of the leaders of a movement that’s going to turn one of your allegedly elite colleges upside down,” he would not have been allowed entry into the US.

He also pointed to Khalil’s involvement in campus protests, which he described as “vandalizing buildings,” arguing that such actions amounted to a crime.

“Negotiating on behalf of people who take over a campus is a crime in and of itself,” Rubio said.

President Donald Trump has defended Khalil’s detention, calling it “the first of many to come” as the administration moves to crack down on those involved in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza, which have killed more than 48,500 Palestinians since October 2023.

Rubio emphasized that the US is also targeting individuals linked to criminal organizations like the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua prison gang, adding: “We don’t want terrorists in America.”

“We don’t want people in our country who are going to be committing crimes and undermining our national security or public safety,” Rubio said. “It’s that simple.”