Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a new visa restriction policy on Wednesday targeting foreign officials and individuals who he says are “complicit in censoring Americans.”
The move, backed by the Trump administration, is aimed at defending the First Amendment rights of U.S. citizens from overreach by foreign governments.
“For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights,” Rubio wrote in a series of posts on X.
“Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans. Free speech is essential to the American way of life – a birthright over which foreign governments have no authority,” Rubio continued.
The new policy bars entry to the United States for foreign nationals accused of working to suppress American speech abroad. Rubio emphasized that travel to the U.S. is a privilege, not a right.
“Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country. Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over,” Rubio wrote.
This latest announcement follows a broader push by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration protocols and crack down on abuses in the student visa system. Just one day prior, the State Department issued cables instructing U.S. embassies and consulates to pause interviews for new student visa applicants.
“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel, which we anticipate in the coming days,” Rubio wrote in the cable.
The delay is part of an expanded review of applicants’ social media activity and background screening.
In a related development, the Department of Homeland Security recently revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students, a move that triggered a legal battle with the Ivy League school. A federal district judge has since issued a temporary restraining order blocking the DHS action.
Rubio’s new visa policy signals a tougher stance on foreign interference in American civil liberties, reinforcing the Trump administration’s broader message: the United States will not grant privileges to those who do not respect its constitutional values.