Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has publicly denounced the United States for what he described as a politically motivated revocation of over 6,000 student visas. In a statement posted to his official X account, Rodríguez accused Washington of silencing international students who have criticized U.S. support for Israel and its military campaign in Gaza.

Rodríguez called the move “cynical” and “hypocritical,” arguing that the U.S. presents itself as a champion of fundamental freedoms while “repressing students who denounce the genocide committed by the Zionist entity in Palestine.” He claimed the visa cancellations were part of an effort to “impose acceptance of its genocidal policy” on young people seeking education at prestigious American universities.

According to U.S. media reports, the State Department has revoked more than 6,000 student visas since January 2025. While the majority were attributed to visa overstays and legal infractions, between 200 and 300 were reportedly canceled under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act for “support for terrorism”.

The crackdown coincides with a wave of pro-Palestinian student protests across U.S. campuses. In a video shared by Rodríguez, Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared alongside former President Donald Trump, defending the policy: “If they come here to take over a campus and act out, we’ll get rid of them—and we’ll keep doing it,” Rubio said, drawing criticism for contradicting the U.S.’s traditional stance on free speech.

Named students include Mohsen Mahdawi, Rumeysa Ozturk, Yunseo Chung, and Mahmoud Khalil—all affiliated with Columbia University or Tufts University—who have reportedly faced detention or investigation. Additional measures include temporary deletion of immigration records and new requirements for visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts for ideological screening.

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