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By Alia Shoaib and Shane Croucher
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States has begun revoking the visas of individuals found celebrating the killing of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
"America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens," Rubio wrote on X.
"Visa revocations are under way. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported. You are not welcome in this country," he continued.
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Newsweek contacted the State Department for comment outside regular working hours.
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Why It Matters
Rubio's threat to revoke visas over online activity represents a rare instance of the U.S. government targeting noncitizens for political speech.
What To Know
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was later arrested on suspicion of killing Kirk and remains in custody. An official motive for the killing remains unknown.
Rubio's threat of visa revocations is the latest crackdown against those accused of publicly celebrating Kirk's death online.
Vice President JD Vance, while hosting Kirk's podcast on Monday, said people should report individuals seen celebrating Kirk's death to their employers.
"By celebrating that murder, apologizing for it, and emphasizing not Charlie's innocence but the fact that he said things some didn't like—even to the point of lying about what he actually said—many of these people are creating an environment where things like this are inevitably going to happen," Vance said.
"So when you see someone celebrating Charlie's murder, call them out," he continued. "And hell, call their employer."
Right-wing activists have also taken action against those viewed to be glorifying his death online, compiling lists and posting identifying information.
Rubio's move is the latest instance of the Trump administration using visa revocations to curb political dissent. Earlier this year, visas were revoked from thousands of students connected to pro-Palestinian protests across college campuses.
In August, the administration said that it would consider "anti-American" views, including those expressed on social media, when evaluating the applications of immigrants wanting to live in the U.S.
What People Are Saying
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News: "We are not in the business of inviting people to visit our country who are going to be involved in negative and destructive behavior."
What Happens Next
It remains unclear how many, if any, visas have been revoked following Kirk's death.
As the national mood remains polarized, the U.S. government's response, including visa revocations, could set a precedent for how authorities address politically charged speech.
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