Kevin Kiley spoke about the way iconic US cities have been dismantled by their Democratic governments

  

WASHINGTON – The U.S. State Department announced it will review the legal status of immigrants who have “praised, justified, or downplayed” the recent assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, which has generated a wave of political and social unrest in the country. According to officials, those in this situation risk having their visas or residence permits revoked.

According to an official statement, the measure seeks to ensure that those who benefit from immigration privileges in the United States maintain conduct consistent with national laws and values. “Public expressions that celebrate acts of political violence may have immigration consequences,” said a State Department spokesperson, emphasizing that the federal government maintains a “zero tolerance” policy toward any form of support for violence.

Immigration law experts warn that the implementation of the measure could open a debate about the limits of freedom of expression in relation to immigration status. “The line between personal opinion and advocacy of violence is very delicate. The risk is that the interpretation will be left in the hands of administrative authorities, which could lead to arbitrary actions,” explained an immigration attorney.

For their part, civil rights and pro-immigrant organizations expressed concern about what they consider a political use of the immigration system to silence critical voices. They assert that the threat of revoking visas for comments on social media could have a chilling effect and violate fundamental rights. However, some organizations understand that immigrants have an obligation to enter or leave American society.

However, Republican lawmakers welcomed the measure, calling it a necessary step to defend national security and prevent the United States from becoming a haven for individuals who "applaud political violence."

The State Department did not specify how many cases are currently under review, but indicated that cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will allow for tracking social media posts and assessing whether they constitute violations of the code of conduct expected of visa and immigration parole recipients.

With this measure, the administration seeks to send a strong message: any link, explicit or implicit, to the advocacy of political violence could have serious consequences for non-U.S. citizens.