The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked the visas of six foreign nationals accused of making derogatory comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
The State Department announced the decision on Tuesday, following a review of the individuals’ social media posts and online clips related to Kirk, who was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at a Utah college campus.
Officials said the move coincided with President Trump’s posthumous award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk, whom he described during the funeral as a “great American hero” and a “martyr for freedom.”
According to the department, the visa revocations form part of a broader effort to enforce U.S. immigration laws and protect what it called “national values.”
“The Trump administration will defend our borders, our culture, and our citizens by enforcing immigration laws. Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed,” the State Department said in a statement.
The six individuals, whose identities were not disclosed, are reportedly citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, and South Africa.
However, civil liberties advocates have criticized the action, warning that it could set a troubling precedent and discourage free expression.
