Marco Rubio Defends Visa Revocation Policy: A Visa is a Privilege, Not a Right

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has emphasized the importance of the policy that revokes or denies visas to individuals whose actions, he claims, pose a threat to national interests or security. He underscored that a visa is not an inherent right but rather a privilege granted to visitors.

During a press conference, Rubio stated that this approach has been a directive from the president since the beginning and was a key motivator in his electoral campaign. He explained that the visa process occasionally involves denying visas to individuals because of activities they have engaged in abroad.

Rubio further mentioned that there are instances involving individuals already in the U.S. with visas who are participating in activities deemed "contrary to our national interests." In such cases, the law grants the authority and, according to Rubio, even the "obligation" to remove these individuals from the country, asserting, "It is as straightforward as that."

As an example, Rubio described a scenario where someone arrives with the intent to study but then engages in criminal activities while in the U.S.; he affirmed, "We will expel them from the country."

He also highlighted other potential categories of visitors, such as researchers, noting that the essential point is that a visa designates a visitor status. The U.S. diplomatic leader reiterated that visas are denied daily at embassies worldwide; applicants may be turned down based on dossier information or new information revealed during an interview, "whatever it may be."

Rubio argued that if the government holds the authority to deny a visa before it is issued, it "undoubtedly" has the power to revoke it if the individual engages in prohibited activities after arrival. Rubio concluded that there are "various reasons" for refusing visas, all linked to the potential impact on U.S. national interests or security.

This Friday, the U.S. government declared the immediate suspension of the Diversity Visa Lottery Program (DV1) following revelations that the Brown University shooter, identified as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, entered the country in 2017 through the program.

Under her directive, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced, "I have instructed the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause the DV1 program to ensure no other American falls victim to this disastrous program."

According to authorities, Neves Valente arrived in the U.S. in 2017 with a diversity immigrant visa, which allowed him to gain permanent residency.

The suspension announced by Trump will impact thousands of hopefuls worldwide, including many Cubans, who aspire to legally migrate to the United States.