Secretary of State Marco Rubio could not explain what rule and law Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk broke that warranted her arrest and detainment by masked plainclothes agents.
Freedom of speech against government intrusion and acts of war is a cornerstone of US democracy, which is why many foreign students want to come here.
Writing an op-ed is not causing a “ruckus” but demonstrating to the world how important freedom of expression is without the boot of fascist thugs stomping down on your neck.
REPORTER: A Turkish student in Boston was detained and handcuffed on the street by plainclothes agents. A year ago she wrote an opinion piece about the Gaza war. Could you help us understand what the specific action she took led to her visa being revoked?
What was your State Department’s role in that process?
RUBIO: We revoked her visa. It’s an F-1 visa, I believe. We revoked it, and here’s why. And I’ll say it again. I’ve said it everywhere. Let me be abundantly clear. If you go apply for a visa right now, anywhere in the world, let me just send this message out.
If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason why you’re coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, we’re not going to give you a visa.
