In a seismic move that’s sent shockwaves through American campuses, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked over 6,000 student visas in 2025 alone, skyrocketing from just 300 in March, under the Trump administration’s aggressive “Catch and Revoke” policy. Unveiled on August 19, 2025, this unprecedented crackdown targets foreign nationals deemed “anti-American” or linked to terrorism, crimes like DUI and burglary, or disruptive campus activism. But the real kicker? The government’s using AI to snoop through social media posts,likes, and even deleted content to hunt down these students. Is this about national security, or is it a chilling assault on free speech?
Rubio’s campaign, fueled by Executive Order 14161 signed by President Trump, mandates rigorous vetting of over 100,000 records in the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS) database, dating back to October 2023. The State Department’s AI-driven surveillance combs through social media, news reports, and campus incident logs to flag students for visa revocation. “We gave you a visa to study, not to tear up our campuses,” Rubio declared, doubling down on the administration’s stance that visas are a privilege, not a right. He’s made it clear: one misstep—like a DUI, a protest deemed “radical,” or a post that smells remotely “anti-American”—and you’re out.
The numbers are staggering. Of the 6,000 revoked visas, approximately 800 were yanked for assault-related charges, while 200-300 students lost their status for alleged “support for terrorism,” including fundraising for groups like Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Rubio’s blunt words on CBS News’ Face the Nation—calling out students who “vandalize colleges” and promising “they’re going to leave”—have ignited a firestorm. Critics, including Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, slam the policy as a “fundamental attack on freedom,” arguing it stifles dissent and violates due process. One viral Threads post screamed, “They’re deporting kids for LIKING a tweet? This is dystopian!”
The “Catch and Revoke” initiative operates like a digital dragnet. Consular officers compile evidence, place students on watchlists, and trigger automatic visa revocations for infractions as minor as traffic violations or as vague as “hostile” social media activity. Students like Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University Fulbright scholar, and Alireza Doroudi, a University of Alabama doctoral student, were detained without warning, some whisked to ICE facilities in Louisiana. Ozturk’s crime? Co-authoring a campus op-ed supporting Palestinians. The Department of Homeland Security claimed she backed Hamas, but her lawyer calls it baseless. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia grad student, faces deportation despite holding a green card, with no clear evidence tying him to terrorism.
President Trump’s rhetoric has poured fuel on the controversy, vowing to deport students engaging in “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.” His executive order, titled Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, empowers Rubio to act swiftly, often bypassing due process. Legal experts warn this could violate First Amendment rights, with lawsuits piling up. The Knight First Amendment Institute has filed a case against Rubio, arguing the policy punishes free expression. “If you protest paper straws, we won’t deport you,” Rubio quipped, but critics aren’t laughing. They see a broader agenda to silence dissent and reshape higher education. 
The impact is rippling across campuses. International students, who contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023-2024, are deleting social media profiles in fear. A New Mexico State University official reported six students facing deportation with no explanation. Threads is ablaze with hashtags like #VisaPurge and #CampusCrackdown, as users debate whether this is about safety or control. “They’re using AI to play judge and jury,” one post ranted, garnering thousands of shares. Another user asked, “What’s next—deporting Americans for free speech?” The policy’s defenders, however, cheer Rubio’s hardline stance, with one pro-Trump influencer posting, “America First! No more radicals on our campuses!”
As the State Department revokes 40,000 visas overall in 2025—compared to 16,000 under Biden—the stakes are sky-high. Universities face funding cuts, and students live in fear of being “caught” by AI. With court battles looming and more detentions expected, the nation is divided. Is Rubio protecting America, or is this a high-tech witch hunt? Click the link to uncover the truth and join the explosive debate tearing up Threads! #CatchAndRevoke #StudentDeportations
