The U.S. Department of State has revoked approximately 80,000 non-immigrant visas since the start of the Trump administration in 2025, marking a sharp escalation in immigration enforcement measures.
This figure, disclosed by the State Department, represents more than double the number of revocations from the previous year and affects categories including tourist, business, student, and temporary worker visas. The move aligns with broader efforts to prioritize national security and public safety, according to official statements from the department.
Criminal convictions form the bulk of the revocations, with around 16,000 linked to driving under the influence, 12,000 to assault, and 8,000 to theft, accounting for nearly half of the total. These actions are based on data from law enforcement databases and reflect a policy of retroactively canceling visas for individuals who commit offenses after entry into the United States. Officials have stressed that such measures are essential to protect communities from repeat offenders.
Beyond criminal activity, revocations have targeted visa overstays and behaviors deemed threats to U.S. interests, including support for terrorism or certain political activities. In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly confirmed that hundreds, potentially thousands, of visas—particularly student ones—were canceled due to expressions conflicting with American foreign policy, such as criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza or perceived pro-Hamas affiliations.
Student visas have been particularly affected, with over 6,000 revoked in August alone, mostly for overstays or legal violations, though a fraction involved national security concerns. The administration has expanded vetting to include thorough reviews of social media and online activity, leading to cases like the revocation of at least six visas over comments related to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Immigration advocates and critics have raised alarms that the revocations may disproportionately impact specific nationalities, including Nigerians, who face high visa denial rates overall. State Department officials counter that the process is impartial and data-driven, applied uniformly across all applicants and holders.
No timeline has been provided for when the heightened revocation rate might ease, as the policy continues to evolve amid ongoing debates over immigration reform. Affected individuals are typically notified via email or upon attempting re-entry, with options to appeal in limited circumstances.
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