The Trump student visa crackdown has drawn outrage from the liberal media, with the New York Times lamenting that “many Iranians are not going to American universities this fall.” The Times framed the issue as a loss for academia, adding that “students from Afghanistan are having trouble getting to campus,” while ignoring the real reason for the policy: national security.
The Trump administration revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays, criminal activity, and ties to terror groups. According to the State Department, 200 to 300 of those revoked expressed “support for terrorism.” In an era of rising anti-Semitism, much of it fueled by radicalized foreign students, Trump’s move targets a real threat.
The crackdown comes as student visa holders have led anti-Israel protests across campuses. Columbia’s Mahmoud Khalil, an Afghan national tied to UNRWA, refused to condemn Hamas. At Cornell, activist Momodou Taal declared he takes his “cue from the armed resistance in Palestine.” Meanwhile, Iran itself has openly backed the protests. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei praised anti-Israel demonstrators as “a branch of the Resistance Front.”
The administration has gone further, announcing that “antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals” can now be grounds for denying visas and green cards. As one official explained, “You can have so many bad apples in one place that it leads to decertification of the school.”
By focusing on fewer Iranians attending U.S. universities, the New York Times reveals its priorities. President Trump is focused on protecting Americans.
