Senate Hearing Erupts as Rubio Defends Student Visa Revocations Amid Activist Deportations

During a tense Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the revocation of student visas for foreign students he accused of causing campus disruptions, asserting that visas are a privilege, not a right. Rubio cited cases such as Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk, whose visa was revoked and who was detained despite no evidence linking her to terrorism, prompting sharp rebukes from Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who accused Rubio of punishing free speech and violating constitutional rights. Van Hollen expressed regret for voting to confirm Rubio, condemning his actions as authoritarian and accusing him of using visa revocations to suppress dissent, particularly targeting student activists. Rubio also referenced the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, a move Van Hollen criticized as a "cash for collusion deal" with El Salvador's president. The hearing became increasingly contentious, with Rubio dismissing Van Hollen's criticisms and emphasizing his efforts to cut foreign aid spending and enforce immigration controls. Overall, the exchange highlighted deep partisan divisions over issues of free speech, immigration policy, and the role of the State Department in regulating foreign student activism.