By MATTHEW LEE
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has revoked the visas of six foreigners deemed by U.S. officers to have made derisive feedback or made mild of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk final month.
The State Division stated Tuesday it had decided they need to lose their visas after reviewing their on-line social media posts and clips about Kirk, who was killed whereas talking at a Utah school campus on Sept. 10.
The announcement got here as President Donald Trump was posthumously awarding him America’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. At Kirk’s funeral in September, Trump referred to as him a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom.
The administration and its supporters have focused individuals for his or her feedback about Kirk, resulting in firings or different self-discipline of journalists, lecturers and others, and elevating free speech issues.
The six foreigners who had their visas revoked had been from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa. They weren’t recognized.
Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “will defend our borders, our culture, and our citizens by enforcing our immigration laws,” the State Division stated. “Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed.”
Vice President JD Vance and different high U.S. officers have inspired individuals to name out criticism about Kirk that they see on-line. In an uncommon tweet final month, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau requested social media customers to repeat him on any related posts, saying he was personally “disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action.”
Along with Tuesday’s motion, the administration has ramped up efforts to establish and doubtlessly expel 1000’s of foreigners in the US, notably college students, who it says have both fomented or participated in unrest or publicly supported protests in opposition to Israel’s navy operations in Gaza. The administration has additionally denied visas to candidates whose social media histories have been crucial of its insurance policies.
Among the many higher-profile circumstances, the administration has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the US for feedback crucial of Trump, revoked a visa for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the U.N. Normal Meeting and yanked the visas for British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan. It stated it’s reviewing the standing of the greater than 55 million present U.S. visa holders for potential violations of its requirements.
These actions have been criticized by civil rights teams as violations of constitutional protections for freedom of speech, which apply to anybody in the US and never simply to Americans.
Initially Printed: October 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM EDT
