U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that the U.S. is revoking and denying visas for foreign nationals who celebrate the killing of Charlie Kirk. Speaking on X, Rubio stated, “America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens.” Anyone praising or cheering the assassination could face deportation if they’re already in the U.S. on a visa.
Rubio’s announcement followed a similar message from Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who said those celebrating or justifying Kirk’s death are not welcome visitors in the country. Landau also directed U.S. consular staff to take appropriate action when they observe foreign nationals promoting such rhetoric.
It’s not yet clear how many visas have actually been revoked or how many people are affected. Nor is it clear which countries’ nationals are impacted by this policy. The State Department’s criteria for identifying which individuals meet the threshold for visa cancellation has not been fully disclosed.
In the wake of these policy announcements, some U.S. organizations have already taken action. Reports indicate that certain sectors—including airlines, education, and the media—are suspending or terminating individuals who publicly celebrated Kirk’s death. For example, a pilot employed by American Airlines has been grounded.