Rubio Admits: Immigrants Jailed Over Political Beliefs

Secretary of State Marco Rubio clearly states that President Donald Trump's administration is focusing on detaining and deporting immigrants who back the incorrect causes.

In the wake of This week's apprehension of Tufts University graduate student Rumesya Ozturk (who was lawfully present in the United States with an F-1 visa that was later canceled) large-scale demonstrations have been occurring In the Boston, Massachusetts suburb of Somerville, drawing in thousands of supporters. Ozturk authored an opinion piece last year in the Tufts Daily requesting that her school remove its investments from Israel because of the country's actions against Palestinian civilians.

Ozturk was heading out to join some friends for breaking her Ramadan fast when several masked agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stopped her on the sidewalk and took her into an unmarked car. Currently, she is being held in federal custody in Louisiana as she awaits deportation proceedings, even though a judge instructing the administration to retain her in Massachusetts .

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ABC News reported Thursday Rubio supported the administration’s holding of Ozturk and other non-citizens by asserting that he possessed the unconditional authority to cancel any visa issued to an immigrant—regardless of whether they were merely expressing political views.

By now, the number could exceed 300. This process occurs daily. Each time I come across one of these individuals, I revoke their visa," Rubio stated during a Thursday press conference. "Should you seek a visa to enter the U.S. as a student and claim your purpose here isn’t merely to pen opinion pieces, but rather to engage with groups that promote activities such as defacing university property, intimidating fellow students, occupying buildings, and causing disturbances — then rest assured, you won’t receive a visa from us.

"If you deceive us and obtain a visa to come into the United States, and use that visa for activities contrary to what was intended, we will revoke your visa," he continued. "Once your visa is revoked, you become an unlawful presence here. Just as all countries worldwide have the authority to do so, we can deport you from our nation. It’s really that straightforward.”

Ozturk is merely the most recent non-citizen to face potential deportation under the Trump administration because of her support for Palestinian causes. This development follows closely after the Department of Homeland Security’s actions. apprehending Dr. Badar Khan Suri —a graduate student at Georgetown University who was lawfully present in the U.S. with a student visa—at his residence in Virginia last week. His lawyer contended that his detention stemmed from his advocacy for pro-Palestinian movements. The Department of Homeland Security under President Trump also apprehended Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old individual holding a green card and enrolled as an undergraduate at Columbia University. She came to the U.S. when she was seven years old. Prosecuting Attorney Perry Carphone stated that the government intended to rescind her status as a lawful permanent resident. owing to the circumstances surrounding the protests. "

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The Trump administration is likewise trying to Deport the Columbia University graduate student named Mahmoud Khalil Last year’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the Ivy League institution were spearheaded by Khalil, who is married to an American citizen. He faced arrest and was put into deportation procedures without being accused of any specific offense. The administration claims they have the authority to take such actions based on a law which permits deporting anyone not a citizen if their presence might jeopardize the president's international policies. However, Khalil’s lawyer argues that his detention is merely a punitive measure due to his involvement as an activist.

Previous president of the American Civil Liberties Union, Nadine Strossen mentioned to Reason magazine earlier this month While noncitizens—including undocumented immigrants—enjoy the same First Amendment protections as citizens concerning civil and criminal matters, their entitlements become more ambiguous during the deportation proceedings. Based on the New York Times' reporting by German Lopez The federal government possesses almost unlimited authority when it comes to immigration matters, such as deportation of non-citizens; it determines both entry into and continued presence within the nation, which can sometimes override constitutional protections.

A senior advisor to President Trump, Stephen Miller, stated earlier that his objective was to increase deportations of immigrants due to their political beliefs. In a address to National Rifle Association members in February 2024 He stated that the second Trump administration would focus on “individuals admitted through visas but whose viewpoints, ideologies, and convictions render them unfit to remain within the nation.” During an address to campaign contributors in May 2024, Trump further mentioned this approach. give priority to deporting immigrants who participated in protests supporting Palestinian rights And the Washington Post disclosed earlier this week that the Trump administration is currently instructing universities to provide them with their names and nationalities of noncitizen student protesters.

What I do is, whenever a student protests, I expel them from the country," Trump stated. "There are many international students here. Once they understand this, they will comply.

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Click here To view ABC's complete report.

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