Since President Donald Trump took office again last year, the US State Department claims to have revoked over 100,000 visas, including thousands granted to foreign students and specialized professionals.
“The State Department has now revoked over 100,000 visas, including about 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized visas for individuals who had encounters with U.S. law enforcement for criminal activity,” the department said in a statement posted on X on Monday.”
According to officials, the action is a component of larger initiatives to improve public safety and uphold immigration regulations. “We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the department continued, reiterating its position.”
When Trump took office again last year, he launched a widespread crackdown, which is reflected in the number of revocations. Last month, the administration declared that it had managed over 2.5 million voluntary departures and deportations, a “record-breaking achievement.”.
However, some of those deportations involved immigrants with legitimate visas, raising concerns about human rights and due process.
The administration has also adopted a stricter policy for granting visas, with tightened social media vetting and expanded screening.
“We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the State Department said in its post on X.
The four leading causes for visa revocations were overstays, driving under the influence, assault, and theft, State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said. The revocations marked a 150 percent increase from 2024, he added.
The State Department has also launched a Continuous Vetting Center, aimed at ensuring “all foreign nationals on American soil comply with our laws – and that the visas of those who pose a threat to American citizens are swiftly revoked”, Pigott said.
That centre is part of an overall push to restrict who is allowed into the country. The State Department has ordered US diplomats in general to be vigilant against visa applicants whom Washington may see as hostile to the US or who have a history of political activism.
In November, the State Department said it had revoked about 80,000 non-immigrant visas since Trump’s inauguration, for offences ranging from driving under the influence to assault and theft.