US Revokes Visas of Six Foreigners Who Made Incendiary Comments About Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk.
The US State Department has revoked the visas of six foreign nationals who made incendiary social media comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a 22-year-old Utah man who was killed in September while speaking to students on campus.
According to the department's posts on X, the six individuals hailed from Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and Paraguay. Their comments on social media suggested that Kirk deserved to be killed, sparking outrage and prompting the US government to take action.
The revocation is part of a wider crackdown on comments that mock or celebrate Kirk's death, which has also affected service members and agents who wrote negative posts about him. The Pentagon and Secret Service have sidelined those involved in such incidents.
This move comes as the Trump administration continues to crack down on individuals who express what it considers to be anti-American views, including foreign students accused of antisemitic rhetoric during campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza Strip.
USCIS has also been monitoring social media comments for "anti-American views and activities," with its director stating that people are free to make statements but those supporting violent overthrow of the country or providing material support to terrorist organizations will be investigated.
However, a law expert notes that the government's power to deny or revoke visas based on speech grounds is an unresolved question, as it remains unclear whether federal officials can deport people who are already in the US due to their speech.
The US State Department has revoked the visas of six foreign nationals who made incendiary social media comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a 22-year-old Utah man who was killed in September while speaking to students on campus.
According to the department's posts on X, the six individuals hailed from Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and Paraguay. Their comments on social media suggested that Kirk deserved to be killed, sparking outrage and prompting the US government to take action.
The revocation is part of a wider crackdown on comments that mock or celebrate Kirk's death, which has also affected service members and agents who wrote negative posts about him. The Pentagon and Secret Service have sidelined those involved in such incidents.
This move comes as the Trump administration continues to crack down on individuals who express what it considers to be anti-American views, including foreign students accused of antisemitic rhetoric during campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza Strip.
USCIS has also been monitoring social media comments for "anti-American views and activities," with its director stating that people are free to make statements but those supporting violent overthrow of the country or providing material support to terrorist organizations will be investigated.
However, a law expert notes that the government's power to deny or revoke visas based on speech grounds is an unresolved question, as it remains unclear whether federal officials can deport people who are already in the US due to their speech.
. I mean, six people get their visas revoked just for making some pretty fiery comments about a guy they didn't even meet? It feels like we're living in a world where being an American can be a sin if you say the wrong thing 
. And now it's spreading to foreign students too... is this really what we want to teach our kids - that speaking up can get you in trouble, no matter where you're from? 
. Im not sure if its the right approach. I mean, freedom of speech is a thing and people should be able to express themselves without fear of consequences. But at the same time, some of those comments were pretty out there - incendiary stuff that could easily spark violence.
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isn't freedom of speech supposed to protect people from getting in trouble for their thoughts? 
is it like some kind of AI program or something? 
and what happens if someone makes a comment that's not necessarily anti-American, but just gets caught up in the crossfire? 
. like, isn't free speech supposed to be a thing? these 6 ppl made some pretty incendiary comments, but is that really enough to warrant taking away their passports? and what about the fact that they're already in the US? shouldn't they be able to make their own decisions if they're living here?