The United States government has issued a stern warning that visas may be revoked for foreigners who glorify the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau made the announcement on Thursday, urging internet users to flag online posts that appear to celebrate or justify Kirk’s assassination.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau wrote on X.
He expressed outrage at posts that made light of the killing and confirmed he had directed consular officials to take “appropriate action.”
Landau also engaged directly with X users who pointed him to specific online comments, encouraging them to continue sharing information for further review.
Kirk, 31, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a prominent figure among young conservatives, was shot dead on Wednesday during a speaking engagement at a Utah university.
The move comes as part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to tighten immigration control through visa restrictions. As of mid-August, the State Department reported the revocation of 6,000 student visas, mostly linked to legal violations such as overstays or criminal offenses.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also vowed to revoke visas of individuals leading campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, citing a law permitting the removal of foreign nationals who act against U.S. foreign policy interests.
Additionally, visa applicants are now required to keep their social media profiles open for vetting, further tightening the scope of U.S. immigration checks.
The policy has raised concerns among critics who accuse Washington of clamping down on free speech, even as it condemns similar restrictions imposed by some of its European allies.
