The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked approximately 80,000 non-immigrant visas since taking office on January 20, in one of the largest visa enforcement actions in recent U.S. history, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday.
The revocations, first reported by the Washington Examiner, are part of a sweeping immigration crackdown that has seen record deportations, including of individuals holding valid visas.
The campaign reflects the Trump administration’s tougher stance on immigration, visa eligibility, and national security screening.
According to the State Department official, about 16,000 of the revoked visas were tied to cases involving driving under the influence, 12,000 for assault, and roughly 8,000 for theft.
“These three crimes accounted for almost half of all revocations this year,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The administration has also introduced stricter visa issuance policies, including expanded social media screening and more rigorous background checks.
In August, the State Department revealed it had canceled over 6,000 student visas for overstays and legal violations, including several linked to what officials described as “support for terrorism.”
Last month, officials said at least six individuals had their visas revoked over social media posts concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in May that “hundreds, perhaps thousands” of visas, including those of students, had been revoked due to activities deemed contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests.
New directives issued to U.S. embassies this year instruct diplomats to deny or revoke visas for applicants with a history of political activism or positions seen as hostile to Washington.
Administration officials have also warned that student visa and green card holders could face deportation for expressing support for Palestinians or criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza, rhetoric the administration has characterized as “pro-Hamas” and a threat to U.S. foreign policy.
The aggressive visa revocation campaign underscores the Trump administration’s ongoing push to reshape U.S. immigration and foreign engagement policy through tighter enforcement and ideological scrutiny.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
