Sweeping Crackdown? US Cancels 85,000 Visas Since January – Who’s Targeted And Why It’s Just The Beginning | World News

USA Visa Cancellations: Signaling a comprehensive crackdown on immigration under President Donald Trump’s administration, the US State Department announced that 85,000 visas have been canceled since January. This move underscores the White House’s focus on border security and visa enforcement.

The State Department noted in a post on

The post was accompanied by an image of the president bearing the slogan ‘Make America Safe Again’; This strengthened the administration’s argument that tighter visa rules are necessary for national security.

There have been 85,000 visa cancellations since January.

President Trump and Secretary Rubio are committed to a simple mission and they won’t be stopping anytime soon pic.twitter.com/fbNYw9wj71— Department of State (@StateDept) December 9, 2025

A senior State Department official provided additional information, revealing that more than 8,000 of the canceled visas belonged to international students. The main reasons cited include crimes such as drunk driving, theft and assault, which account for nearly half of this year’s cancellations, according to CNN.

Although these crimes constituted a significant portion of the cancellations, the ministry did not publicly disclose the reasons behind the remaining cases. Previous statements included the expiration of visas and allegations of “support for terrorism”.

In October, the administration also revoked the visas of people accused of celebrating the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. International students participating in protests related to the Gaza conflict have similarly faced tougher scrutiny; This reflects a broader approach to monitoring visa holders.

These actions are part of the State Department’s plan, first announced in August, to implement a “continuous review” system for all 55 million aliens with valid U.S. visas. The system is intended to track visa holders throughout their stay in the country and detect possible violations in real time.

During President Trump’s second term, the U.S. administration expanded the criteria for reviewing visa applications by closely examining H-1B applicants, a crucial program that allows U.S. employers to hire specialized foreign talent. These expanded revocations, intensified investigative procedures, and expanded scrutiny underscore a determined effort to tighten immigration controls and ensure visa holders fully comply with U.S. laws.

With this wide-ranging crackdown, the Trump administration appears to be sending the message that the era of lax visa enforcement is over and that there will be immediate consequences for criminal, political or administrative violations.