Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday announced sweeping visa restrictions aimed at foreign officials “complicit in censoring Americans” abroad. In a post on X, Rubio said the U.S. will no longer tolerate harassment of Americans for exercising free speech overseas: “Foreigners who undermine our rights shouldn’t enjoy the privilege of traveling here.”
For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2025
Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans.…
The new policy comes alongside the State Department’s abrupt suspension of student and exchange visa appointments worldwide. A cable obtained by AFP instructs embassies to pause visa interviews pending further guidance. The Trump administration plans stricter vetting of foreign students’ social media and has already revoked hundreds of visas.
The move has drawn criticism abroad. China urged the U.S. to respect international students’ rights, while Japan and Hong Kong invited displaced scholars to transfer. Meanwhile, House Republicans praised Rubio’s stance, calling it a long-overdue pushback against foreign censorship.
