In a recent interview with the Catholic network EWTN, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended a series of new immigration and foreign policy measures.
He justified a pilot project that imposes a deposit on visitors from certain countries and affirmed the legality of revoking student visas for comments deemed contrary to U.S. interests. He also reiterated Washington’s commitment to peace and the protection of Christians in Nigeria.
Secretary Rubio explained that the State Department is launching a pilot program that requires a $10,000 deposit for adult travelers and $5,000 for children from countries with high visa overstay rates. He noted that visa overstays account for “more than half of the illegal immigrants” at any given time. The deposit, which is fully refundable if the traveler departs on time, is intended to serve as both an incentive and a verification mechanism to “reduce the number of overstays.”
Rubio also addressed concerns about the revocation of student visas for comments that are deemed contrary to U.S. strategic interests. He asserted that this practice is legal and already in effect under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Rejecting accusations of a First Amendment violation, he stated, “A student visa is not a constitutional right.” He clarified that a visa can be denied or canceled if certain information becomes known before or after its issuance, particularly if such information impacts U.S. foreign policy.
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