New Bill Would Give Marco Rubio “Thought Police” Power to Revoke U.S. Passports

Rubio's "Thought Police" Bill Sparks Alarm Bells Among Civil Liberties Advocates A new bill introduced by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., has sent shockwaves through the civil liberties community, with critics warning that it would grant Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to revoke U.S. passports based on an individual's opinions or speech. The provision, part of a larger State Department reorganization, is set for a hearing Wednesday and has sparked concerns among advocates who point to Rubio's past actions as evidence of his willingness to use his authority to silence critics. In March, Rubio stripped Turkish doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürks of her visa based on an opinion piece she wrote critical of Israel, which a court later found was not a legitimate reason for revoking her visa. "This bill would open the door to the 'thought police' and allow Secretary Rubio to revoke passports based solely on what someone thinks," said Seth Stern, director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation. "It's a chilling expansion of executive authority that would have far-reaching consequences for American citizens." The legislation, sponsored by Mast as part of his efforts to reorganize the State Department, claims to target terrorists and traffickers but critics say it could be used to deny Americans their right to travel based on their speech. "This bill is a threat to our fundamental freedoms," said Stern. "It's a slippery slope that would allow the government to dictate what we can and cannot say." Rubio has claimed the power to designate people as terrorist supporters based solely on what they think, sparking concerns among advocates who point to his past actions as evidence of his willingness to use his authority to silence critics. The bill is part of a larger effort by Mast to reorganize the State Department, which he claims will help to streamline operations and improve efficiency. However, critics say it would give Rubio too much power and allow him to target individuals based on their opinions or speech. "This bill is a threat to our democracy," said Stern. "It's a clear attempt to silence critics and stifle free speech." The hearing on the bill is set for Wednesday, with advocates urging lawmakers to reject the provision and protect American citizens' right to travel and express themselves freely. Background: Marco Rubio has been Secretary of State since 2025 and has a history of using his authority to revoke visas and passports based on an individual's opinions or speech. In March, he stripped Turkish doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürks of her visa based on an opinion piece she wrote critical of Israel. Additional Perspectives: The bill has sparked concerns among civil liberties advocates who point to Rubio's past actions as evidence of his willingness to use his authority to silence critics. "This bill is a threat to our fundamental freedoms," said Stern. "It's a slippery slope that would allow the government to dictate what we can and cannot say." Current Status: The hearing on the bill is set for Wednesday, with advocates urging lawmakers to reject the provision and protect American citizens' right to travel and express themselves freely. Next Developments: Lawmakers will consider the bill at a hearing on Wednesday, with advocates expected to testify against the provision. The outcome of the hearing is uncertain, but critics say they are hopeful that lawmakers will reject the bill and protect American citizens' rights. *Reporting by Theintercept.*