The State Department in the United States has announced that it has revoked over a 100,000 visas, including thousands issued to international students and specialised professionals, since President Donald Trump returned to office last year.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, the department announced: “The State Department has now revoked over 100,000 visas, including some 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialised visas for individuals who had encounters with U.S. law enforcement for criminal activity.”
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 were immigrants with legitimate visas, raising concerns about human rights and due process.
Additionally, the government has tightened social media vetting and increased screening as part of a more stringent visa policy.
“We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the State Department said in its post on X.
According to State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott, overstays, drunk driving, assault, and theft were the top four reasons for these revocations. He stated that the revocations represented a 150 percent increase from 2024.
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.
This centre is a part of a broader effort to limit the number of people who can enter the nation. The State Department has instructed all US diplomats to be on the lookout for visa applicants who have a history of political involvement or who Washington may see as antagonistic to the US.
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.
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