‘We gave you visa to study... not to become social activist’: Rubio on revoking visa of detained Turkish student

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that the visa of Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk has been revoked due to her engagement in activities beyond the scope of her student visa.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that the visa of Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk has been revoked due to her engagement in activities beyond the scope of her student visa.

While addressing a joint news conference with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali in Georgetown, Guyana, Mr. Rubio said, “We revoked her visa...We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses.”

Mr. Rubio emphasised that the U.S. expects international students to adhere to the terms of their visas. “If we’ve given you a visa and then you decide to do that, we’re going to take it away,” he stated.

On Tuesday (March 25, 2025), an international student in a graduate program at Tufts University was taken into federal custody outside an off-campus apartment building, according to the university’s president and an attorney representing the student, The New York Times reported

The student, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish citizen, had a valid student visa as a doctoral student at Tufts, according to a statement from her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai.

According to The New York Times, Ms. Ozturk, who is Muslim, was heading out to break her Ramadan fast with friends Tuesday (March 25, 2025) night when she was detained by agents from the Department of Homeland Security near her apartment in Somerville, Mass, Khanbabai said.

“We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her,” the lawyer said. “No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of.”