Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent out a warning via X that visa holders who are celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10^th could find their visas revoked. “America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens,” wrote Rubio. “Visa revocations are under way. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported. You are not welcome in this country.” Prior to the announcement, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called out foreigners who had celebrated Kirk’s murder. “I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” he wrote on X. “I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention so that the @StateDept can protect the American people.”

Conservatives have sought to make an example of those celebrating Kirk’s death by reporting social media posts to employers and bombarding them with phone calls and emails. Numerous people have been fired due to social media posts cheering on Kirk’s death. Vice President JD Vance encouraged people while he was hosting Kirk’s podcast to report any celebratory activity. “By celebrating that murder, apologizing for it, and emphasizing not Charlie’s innocence but the fact that he said things some didn’t like—even to the point of lying about what he actually said—many of these people are creating an environment where things like this are inevitably going to happen,” Vance warned. “So, when you see someone celebrating Charlie’s murder, call them out. And hell, call their employer.” Critics have framed such tactics as a violation of First Amendment rights while conservatives have said such celebrations could incite violence, which is not protected under the First Amendment.

Speaking on Fox News, Rubio defended the move, calling visa holders “visitors.” “We shouldn’t be bringing people into this country. We should not be giving visas to people who are going to come to the United States and do things like celebrate the murder, the execution, the assassination, of a political figure. We should not,” he said. “And if they’re already here, we should be revoking their visa. Why would we want to bring people into our country that are going to engage in negative and destructive behavior? It makes no sense.”