The Trump administration has revoked nearly 80,000 non-immigrant visas since returning to office on January 20, marking one of the most far-reaching visa enforcement efforts in recent years, a senior State Department official confirmed.
The cancellations span tourist, student, and temporary-worker visas, and were tied largely to criminal offenses and political activity. According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, roughly:
- 16,000 visas were revoked over DUI-related offenses
- 12,000 for assault
- 8,000 for theft
“These three crimes alone account for almost 50 percent of the revocations,” the official said.
The sweeping action reflects President Donald Trump’s intensified approach to immigration and visa vetting. Since taking office, the administration has broadened security screening to include mandatory social-media reviews and heightened scrutiny of applicants’ political affiliations and activism.
In August, the State Department revealed it had revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays, criminal violations, or alleged links to extremist groups. A small number were cancelled for suspected “support for terrorism.”
Last month, U.S. officials said at least six visas were revoked after individuals posted celebratory messages on social media about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that “hundreds, possibly thousands” of additional visas have been canceled for activities deemed contrary to U.S. foreign-policy interests.
Diplomatic cables circulated earlier this year instructed U.S. embassies and consulates to closely track applicants with histories of anti-U.S. political activism, particularly those criticizing Israel’s war in Gaza or expressing support for Palestinians. Officials argue such positions may pose “foreign-policy risks” and could indicate pro-Hamas sympathies.
The surge in cancellations has drawn praise from immigration hawks, who say the system has long been too lax. But civil-liberties groups warn that the administration is using visa authority to police ideology, raising concerns about free expression and political discrimination.
