State Department Spox Asked Point Blank For The Number Of Student Visas That Have Been Revoked

2 days ago

During Friday’s State Department press briefing, Spokesperson Tammy Bruce answered questions about the recent student visas revoked under the Trump Administration.

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00:00I'm just trying to get some more fidelity on the number of foreign students' visas that

00:07have been revoked.

00:08There's been some back and forth, and it's a little nebulous.

00:12If you have not the exact figure, I'm sure, because it's a fluid situation, but it's one

00:17of my new favorite words, because that is somewhat correct.

00:23We know that, of course, there's some things I've said, I think, regularly on the issue

00:29of visas, is that we don't speak about specifics, right?

00:32We tend to also not provide statistics, and I think that's also important.

00:39So I'm not going to talk to you about numbers, because also it does continue to change.

00:45As we talk about numbers and everything else, we're looking at a framework where it gets

00:48us closer to the specifics for individuals, which we don't want to do.

00:53Of course it's a big story.

00:54It's something also that's important when it comes to the larger story, the revocation

01:00of visas, and why that's happening.

01:02But the Secretary also addressed this a couple of times on the trip.

01:07He was asked about certain numbers of visas that were revoked.

01:11He said he didn't know, but that we'll revoke the visas of whoever it is that fits within

01:18the category of what it is we're deciding is going to get your visa revoked, which is

01:23illegal activity, essentially.

01:26And I do know that from our own conversations here, that – here we go – the department

01:38– I can say this specifically – revokes visas every day in order to secure America's

01:44borders and keep our communities safe, and will continue to do so.

01:48Because the process is ongoing, the number of revocations, as I've noted, is dynamic,

01:53and the department generally does not provide statistics on visa revocations.

01:59And generally, we're not going to add anything at this time.

02:02But clearly, this is a process that we are committed to and is part of making America

02:06safe again.

02:08And we're – it's within our right, it's within the right of every sovereign nation

02:12to make a determination who will stay in this country, who will be allowed in this country.

02:18And the Secretary, of course, has been very clear on this.

02:22What we can also say is that we have zero tolerance for noncitizens who violate U.S.

02:26laws.

02:27Those who break the law, including students, may face visa refusal, visa revocation, and

02:33or deportation.

02:35Also, all visa applicants, no matter the visa type and where they are located, are continuously

02:41vetted.

02:43So we are looking always at your status in this process.

02:48We also are looking at the security vetting.

02:51It runs from the time of each application through adjudication of the visa and afterwards

02:57during the validity period of every visa issued to ensure that the individual remains eligible

03:03to travel to and be in the United States.

03:07The Department of State will work closely – continues to work closely with the Department

03:11of Homeland Security, which enters into this process, to administer and enforce U.S. visas

03:17and immigration laws.

03:18A lot of this may have been unknown to people who have visas because we haven't had to

03:22discuss it before, but I think that should answer your question.

03:25Yes, ma'am.

State Department Spox Asked Point Blank For The Number Of Student Visas That Have Been Revoked

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