United States Cancels Travel Permits of 6 Foreigners Over Social Media Remarks Criticizing Charlie Kirk
The State Department announced on Tuesday that it had revoked the entry permits of six foreign nationals due to social media comments regarding the killing of right-wing figure Charlie Kirk.
"America has zero requirement to host foreigners who call for harm on US citizens," announced the State Department in a release. "Our department continues to find visa holders who praised the awful assassination of Charlie Kirk."
Cases of Entry Permit Revocations
The office then shared 6 "examples of foreign nationals who are no longer welcome in the US" in a chain on the online platform.
The chain contained images and quotes from users identified as foreign nationals from Argentinian, Brazilian, German, Mexican, Paraguayan and South Africa.
Information Somewhat Revealed
Not one of the individuals was named by full identity, but the images made it feasible to determine the information of two people, including someone who had been focused on for harassment by right-wing users on the platform.
"Charlie Kirk won't be remembered as a champion," read an example of the comments posted online. "He was used to artificially promote a campaign of racist uneducated!"
Government Policy and Past Measures
The thread finished with a declaration from the agency that the leadership "will safeguard our boundaries, our culture, and our residents by applying our entry regulations. Aliens who exploit America's hospitality while applauding the murder of our residents will be expelled."
Recently, a deputy official of state asked social media participants to share him posts negative about Kirk, stating he was "horrified to see some on digital networks applauding, excusing, or making light of the event, and have ordered our visa officers to undertake necessary measures."
Wider Entry Policies
- The leadership has previously increased efforts to locate and potentially expel many of foreign students it alleges of involving in unrest in the form of rallies against Israel's extensive casualties of Palestinian people in Gaza.
- The government has also required international travelers to make their social media accounts open so that they can be reviewed before they are allowed to enter the America.
- In recent months, the government has expelled the South African representative to the US for statements against the government.
- Additionally, it has withdrawn a travel document for the Palestine's president to participate in the UN meeting in New York.
- The government has also cancelled entry permits of a British punk-rap group.
Assessment of Visa Possessors
The leadership has also announced it is reviewing the status of above 55,000,000 owners of visas to visit the US for possible breaches of its standards.
Criticism from Rights Groups
These measures have been criticized by liberties groups as clear breaches of fundamental safeguards for free speech, which apply to everyone in the US, not just citizens.