In a forceful statement that is gaining national attention, Senator Marco Rubio defended the deportation of Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was recently detained and removed from the United States after participating in aggressive campus protests linked to a foreign terrorist organization.
Ozturk, a student at Tufts University, had her F-1 visa revoked after she took part in activities that included blockading university buildings, harassing other students, and disrupting campus operations. The decision to deport her was met with backlash from activist circles, but Rubio stood firm, offering what he called “absolute clarity” on the matter.
“Let me be abundantly clear: If you apply for a student visa to come to the United States and you say you’re coming not just to study, but to participate in movements that vandalize universities, harass students, take over buildings, and cause chaos—we’re not giving you that visa,” Rubio said.
He continued, emphasizing the broader principle behind the decision:
“If you lie, get the visa, and then engage in that kind of behavior once you’re here, we’re going to revoke it. And once your visa is revoked, you’re no longer legally in the United States… We have the right to remove you. It’s that simple.”
Rubio compared the situation to a guest abusing a host’s hospitality:
“If you invite me to your house for dinner and I start putting mud on your couch and spray-painting your kitchen, you’re going to kick me out. We’ll do the same if you come to the U.S. and cause a ruckus.”
Ozturk’s removal highlights growing scrutiny over how foreign nationals are using student visas—and what limits, if any, should be placed on their political activism while in the country. While civil liberties groups argue that students have a right to protest, Rubio and others contend that abusing a visa to engage in radical or disruptive behavior crosses a clear line.
“We don’t want that here,” Rubio concluded. “Go do it in your own country—but not in ours.”
The case is sparking a broader national conversation about campus unrest, immigration enforcement, and the responsibilities that come with entering the United States as a guest.
