…Students, Skilled Workers, Activists and Criminals Alike, Locked Out
By Jeremy Fregene
The United States has revoked more than 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office, marking a record-breaking surge in cancellations as his administration intensifies its hardline immigration and national security agenda.
The U.S. State Department confirmed on Monday that the scale of the revocations represents a new high within a single year, reflecting what officials described as an uncompromising approach to border control, law enforcement and visa compliance.
In a post on X, the department disclosed that the cancellations include about 8,000 student visas and roughly 2,500 specialised visas issued to individuals who had encounters with U.S. law enforcement for criminal activity.
“The State Department has now revoked over 100,000 visas,” the statement said, adding that offences linked to the revocations ranged from visa overstays to serious crimes. “We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe.”
State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the four leading causes for visa revocation were overstays, driving under the influence, assault and theft. He noted that the figure represents a 150 per cent increase compared to 2024, when far fewer visas were withdrawn under the previous administration.
According to official data, the number of visas revoked since Trump’s second inauguration on January 20, 2025, is more than double those cancelled in the final year of former President Joe Biden’s term.
As part of the expanded crackdown, the State Department has also established a Continuous Vetting Center designed to monitor foreign nationals already in the United States and swiftly revoke the visas of those deemed to pose security risks or violate U.S. laws.
“This is about ensuring that all foreign nationals on American soil comply with our laws,” Pigott said.
Beyond criminal offences, the visa purge has also extended into the political arena. Directives issued this year instruct U.S. diplomats abroad to scrutinise visa applicants with a history of political activism or views considered hostile to U.S. interests.
Trump administration officials have openly stated that student visa holders and even lawful permanent residents with green cards could face deportation for supporting Palestinians or criticising Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war. Such actions, officials argue, amount to a threat to U.S. foreign policy, with some critics accused of being pro-Hamas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the cancellations of visas issued to foreign students who took part in pro-Palestinian protests, citing a Cold War-era law that allows the U.S. to deny entry to individuals deemed to be acting against American foreign policy. While some affected individuals have challenged deportation orders in court, the administration has shown little sign of retreat.
In addition to mass revocations, visa screening procedures have been tightened, including expanded reviews of applicants’ social media activity, further raising the bar for entry into the United States.
The visa cancellations form part of a broader immigration offensive by the Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed that more than 605,000 people have been deported, while an estimated 2.5 million others left the country voluntarily since the policy shift began.