The US State Department announced a massive surge in visa cancellations, revoking 85,000 visas since January as part of the Trump administration’s sweeping push for tighter national-security screening and immigration enforcement.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This significant figure underscores the administration’s rapid escalation of security measures, which officials tie directly to the “Make America Safe Again” agenda. The department, in a post on X, confirmed the revocations, stating, “President Trump and Secretary Rubio adhere to one simple mandate, and they won’t stop anytime soon.”
Increased Vetting and Primary Causes
The cancellations are attributed to the expansion of continuous vetting for all 55 million foreign nationals with valid visas, allowing authorities to pull a visa if new adverse information surfaces.
According to a State Department official cited by CNN, the numbers include over 8,000 student visas, which is double the amount from the previous year. The official identified the most frequent triggers for revocation, accounting for nearly half of the cancellations, as offenses that pose a threat to community safety:
- Driving Under the Influence (DUIs)
- Assault
- Theft
While other reasons were not fully disclosed, officials have previously cited visa overstays, criminal concerns, and support for terrorism. CNN also reported that the administration has increasingly targeted international students involved in campus protests over Gaza, leveling accusations of antisemitism or support for extremist groups.
Broader Enforcement Actions
The spike in revocations coincides with several other strict measures taken across different immigration channels:
- Travel Restrictions: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is recommending the expansion of the travel restriction list from 19 to 30–32 countries following a security incident involving an Afghan national in D.C.
- Green Card Vetting: USCIS stated it will reexamine green card applications from individuals originating in “countries of concern.”
- Asylum Pause: All asylum decisions have been temporarily paused by the agency.
- Afghan Ally Visas: The State Department confirmed it is halting visas for Afghans who had assisted US forces.
