Visiting America is not an entitlement. It is a privilege granted to those who adhere to our laws and values. And as Secretary of State, I’ll never forget it.
The law in the United States clearly states who can and cannot enter the country. The State Department’s consular officers are required to apply these rules to each of the millions of visa applicants worldwide each year.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), aliens who endorse or espouse terrorist activity, persuade others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity, or support a terrorist organization – such as Hamas – are ineligible for a US visa.
Furthermore, the INA gives us broad authority to revoke visas. This authority is critical to ensuring our national security and protecting Americans and lawful visitors to our borders.
The Trump administration’s commitment to security and immigration law enforcement is unprecedented and unwavering.
We expect, and the law requires, all visa holders to prove their eligibility every day their visa is valid. This includes following our laws, behaving appropriately based on their visa type, and maintaining these standards throughout their stay in our country.
U.S. visa holders should be aware that the government’s rigorous security screening does not stop once a visa is granted. We continuously monitor and review these cases in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement and security agencies.
This vigilance is required because situations can and do change. Visas, for example, may be revoked if the visa holder has committed a violent crime or drunk driving, has supported terrorism, has overstayed their visit, has performed illegal work, or has done anything else that violates the terms under which we granted them this privilege or jeopardizes the safety of our fellow Americans.
When information about such activities is brought to the department’s attention, our expert staff investigates and determines whether revocation is appropriate.
Recent events have highlighted why our commitment to enforcing the INA and protecting public safety is especially important now.
The United States has over 1.1 million foreign students, including those attending our country’s most prestigious universities. Following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks against Israel, some of these foreign student visitors engaged in antisemitic activities and intimidated Americans, many of whom were Jewish.
These foreigners closed college campuses for American citizens, harassed Jewish students, blocked highways, and stormed buildings. The Trump administration is committed to taking the necessary steps to halt these activities at American universities.
As Secretary of State, I will continue to use my authority to support President Trump’s zero-tolerance policy toward foreign nationals who aid terrorist organizations, engage in activities that endanger our national security, or jeopardize a compelling foreign policy interest.
For decades, the Supreme Court has made it clear that visa holders and other aliens cannot use the First Amendment to justify otherwise illegal actions supporting designated foreign terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hizballah, or the Houthis, or to violate other US laws.
They will continue to face consequences, such as visa denial, revocation, and deportation.
Our first responsibility is to keep the American people safe. While I am Secretary, we will never hesitate to act decisively – and in close coordination with our US government partners – when information indicates that a visa holder may jeopardize our security, has violated US law, or visa revocation is otherwise necessary.
Visas to the United States are a privilege, not a right, reserved for those who strive to improve the country rather than destroy it from within.