Kenyans Warned After US Announces Tougher Visa, Deportation Rules After Charlie Kirk Assassination

Kenyans studying, working, or intending to visit the United States could face new hurdles after Washington announced tougher visa restrictions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that visas will be revoked and foreigners deported if they are found expressing support for assassination incidents, particularly those linked to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“Well, it isn’t just about Charlie Kirk. If you’re a foreigner and you’re out there celebrating the assassination of someone who was speaking somewhere, I mean, we don’t want you in the country," Rubio said at a press briefing where he fielded questions.

"Why would we want to give a visa to someone who thinks it’s good that someone was murdered in the public square? That’s just common sense to me."

A photo of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. /THE FULCRUM

He noted that the government is keeping a close watch on social media and taking action against foreigners who promote or glorify killings.

Rubio cautioned that visa cancellations and rejections are already in progress, emphasising that the United States cannot be a platform for celebrating acts of violence.

"Well, we’ve revoked the visas of people. I don’t know if we’ve revoked the visas of people who are inside the country. We’ve most certainly been denying visas. I mean, think about it. I want everybody to think about this for a moment, okay.

"You’re out there celebrating the assassination in cold blood of someone, and then you want to come in. Why would we want anybody like that in our country, as a tourist, as anything?  We don’t want them here," Rubio added.

The remarks by America’s top diplomat come against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s wider threats to crack down on what it calls “hate speech” following the assassination of one of the president’s allies last week—a move that has stirred debate over free speech rights.

The administration has already taken a hard line on visa revocations and denials, targeting students linked to protests over the Gaza war, holders of Palestinian Authority passports, as well as members of both the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck on September 10, 2025, during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem. The shooting occurred from a rooftop about 140-200 yards away using a .30-06 bolt-action rifle. 

Investigators identified Tyler James Robinson, 22, as the prime suspect. His father recognised him from surveillance images and helped lead to his arrest on September 12.

Robinson faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and firearm offences. DNA evidence from the crime scene (on a towel around the rifle and a screwdriver) links Robinson to the shooting. He has not fully cooperated — authorities are also probing online messages and motive.

Sharing posts that appear to celebrate acts of violence could lead to being denied entry into the United States or having an existing visa revoked.

For Kenyans, even posting or reposting such content while in Kenya could carry consequences if the material is flagged and connected to their visa status or application.