US Secretary of State Rubio comments on deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk: 'If you lie, we will not grant a visa'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the student visa of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish student pursuing a doctorate at Tufts University in Massachusetts, has been revoked and that she will be deported.

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US Secretary of State Rubio comments on deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk: 'If you lie, we will not grant a visa'

US Secretary of State Rubio responded to a question about Öztürk at an event held at the department.

Rubio confirmed that Öztürk's F1 student visa has been revoked.

Explaining their policies regarding the circumstances under which visas can be revoked, Rubio stated, "If you apply for a visa to enter the United States as a student and you tell us that your reason for coming to the US is not just to write op-eds, but to engage in actions related to things like destroying universities, harassing students, occupying buildings, creating chaos, and if you lie to us and get a visa, enter the US, and participate in such activities, we will not grant you a visa, and if we have already granted one, we will take it away from you."

Stating that any person whose visa is revoked will no longer be able to remain in the US because they lose their legal status, the US Secretary said, "When you lose your visa, you are no longer legally in the United States, and like every other country in the world, we have the right to remove you from our country. It's that simple."

Accusing Öztürk of "attempting to incite a riot at the university," Secretary Rubio remarked, "We give you a visa to get an education and earn a degree, not to be a social activist who burns down our university campuses; we gave you a visa, and if you decide to do that, we will take your visa back."

SHE HAD BEEN DETAINED

Rümeysa Öztürk, who is continuing her doctorate in the US, was detained by plainclothes ICE agents on the evening of March 25 as she left her home in Massachusetts to go to an iftar dinner.

The footage captured Öztürk's vocal objections as ICE agents handcuffed the Turkish student behind her back while taking her into custody.

Öztürk's lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, announced that they had not been able to reach her client, and a statement issued by Tufts University noted that the university administration had not been notified of the detention operation in question.

Öztürk's detention occurred during a period when the Donald Trump administration is exerting pressure on pro-Palestinian students and academics. Previously, Palestinian activist and recent Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil had also been detained.

Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri was also facing deportation on allegations of "Hamas propaganda and antisemitism," but US Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles halted that decision.

News Source: 12punto