During a tense exchange on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly clashed with host Margaret Brennan regarding the visa revocation of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student.
Khalil, who was arrested by the Department of Homeland Security on March 8, is accused of participating in a pro-Hamas student encampment, raising concerns about his ties to a designated terrorist organization.
Brennan pressed Rubio on whether Khalil provided any “material support” to Hamas, to which Rubio responded that the U.S. is actively revoking visas for individuals involved in such activities.
He emphasized that visa applicants must be honest about their intentions, stating, “If you tell us… you’re coming to participate in pro-Hamas events, we never would have given you the visa.”
Rubio argued that Khalil’s actions, including negotiating for those involved in campus protests and vandalism, justified the visa revocation.
He asserted that if Khalil had been upfront about his intentions to disrupt university activities, he would not have been admitted to the U.S.
As protests have emerged in defense of Khalil, who previously identified himself as the “lead negotiator” for a divestment campaign against companies linked to Israel, Rubio reiterated that the U.S. should not allow individuals who promote terrorism or engage in unlawful activities to remain in the country.
He concluded by stating that a visa is not a right, but a privilege, and that violators must face consequences.
The heated discussion underscores the broader issues surrounding immigration policies and national security, particularly in the context of rising tensions related to campus protests and foreign affiliations.
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