Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the US administration’s immigration stance during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the State Department’s budget proposal. Addressing questions from lawmakers, Rubio said the US cannot accept everyone who wants to enter the country based on personal circumstances.
He added that no country has an immigration policy that accepts everyone; those who can be vetted easily will get preference in the US.
The exchange turned heated when Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen criticised Rubio over the administration’s deportation policies. Hollen recently visited El Salvador and met Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deportee. “I regret voting for you as Secretary of State,” Hollen said.
Rubio responded, “First of all, your regret for voting for me confirms I'm doing a good job.”
Rubio claimed that the US had deported gang members, including Garcia.
On the topic of student visas, Rubio claimed that the State Department does not carry out deportations but handles visa approvals and revocations. “I don’t deport anybody and I don’t snatch anybody. The State Department does not have officers in the streets snatching everybody. What I do is revoke visas. And it’s very simple. A visa is not a right. It is a privilege.”
He added that student visas will be denied to individuals suspected of disruptive activities on campuses. “If you tell me you’re coming to the United States to lead campus crusades, to take over libraries, and try to burn down buildings and acts of violence, we’re not going to give you a visa.”
Rubio added, “The bottom line is, if you’re coming here to stir up trouble on our campuses, we will deny you a visa. And if you have a visa, and we find you, we will revoke it.”
He added that no country has an immigration policy that accepts everyone; those who can be vetted easily will get preference in the US.
The exchange turned heated when Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen criticised Rubio over the administration’s deportation policies. Hollen recently visited El Salvador and met Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deportee. “I regret voting for you as Secretary of State,” Hollen said.
Rubio responded, “First of all, your regret for voting for me confirms I'm doing a good job.”
Rubio claimed that the US had deported gang members, including Garcia.
On the topic of student visas, Rubio claimed that the State Department does not carry out deportations but handles visa approvals and revocations. “I don’t deport anybody and I don’t snatch anybody. The State Department does not have officers in the streets snatching everybody. What I do is revoke visas. And it’s very simple. A visa is not a right. It is a privilege.”
He added that student visas will be denied to individuals suspected of disruptive activities on campuses. “If you tell me you’re coming to the United States to lead campus crusades, to take over libraries, and try to burn down buildings and acts of violence, we’re not going to give you a visa.”
Rubio added, “The bottom line is, if you’re coming here to stir up trouble on our campuses, we will deny you a visa. And if you have a visa, and we find you, we will revoke it.”
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