Washington, Dec 10 : The US State Department has revoked 85,000 visas since January, underscoring the Trump administration’s intensified focus on immigration enforcement and border security.
Announcing the figures in a post on X, the department said, “85,000 visa revocations since January. President Trump and Secretary Rubio adhere to one simple mandate, and they won’t stop anytime soon,” signalling a continued push for stricter immigration oversight.
The post was accompanied by an image of President Donald Trump bearing the slogan “Make America Safe Again,” reinforcing the administration’s position that tougher visa regulations are central to national security.
A senior State Department official said more than 8,000 of the revoked visas belonged to students. According to the official, offences such as driving under the influence, theft and assault accounted for nearly half of all visa cancellations over the past year, CNN reported.
While criminal offences formed a significant share of the revocations, the official did not detail the remaining cancellations recorded in 2025. Past explanations from the department have cited reasons such as visa expirations and cases linked to support for terrorism.
The administration has also taken action against individuals accused of publicly celebrating the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, revoking their visas in October. In addition, international students who participated in protests related to the Gaza conflict have come under increased scrutiny.
These measures are part of a broader plan, outlined in August, to implement a “continuous vetting” system for over 55 million foreign nationals holding valid US visas, enabling authorities to monitor individuals throughout their stay in the country.
Under President Trump’s second term, the State Department has expanded the criteria for visa review and monitoring, including heightened vetting of H-1B applicants, a key programme for US employers seeking specialised foreign talent.
Taken together, the rising number of US visa revocations, expanded vetting mechanisms and broader scrutiny reflect the administration’s wider effort to tighten immigration controls and respond more aggressively to violations by visa holders.