Trump Govt Revokes Around 80,000 U.S. Visas Since January, Targets Immigration Violations | World News

In a bold move, US President Donald Trump’s administration has canceled nearly 80,000 non-immigrant visas since he took office on January 20, Reuters reported. The cancellations were made for a variety of offences, including drink driving, assault and theft, as well as breaches of immigration and foreign policy rules.

Of the total cancellations, approximately 16,000 were canceled for drunk driving, 12,000 for assault and 8,000 for theft. These three crimes account for nearly half of all visa cancellations this year, the official said. The official also noted that the administration has implemented stricter vetting procedures, including expanded social media checks and deeper background screening for new visa applicants.

In addition to these actions, the State Department said more than 6,000 student visas were revoked in August for overstaying, breaking U.S. laws, or engaging in activities that violate visa conditions. Some of these cases reportedly involved people accused of supporting terrorism.

The ministry recently confirmed that the visas of at least six people who commented online about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were revoked, Reuters reported.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who took office earlier this year, said in May that hundreds, possibly thousands, of visas were canceled for reasons related to US foreign policy concerns. He noted that individuals who find supporting causes deemed hostile to American interests may lose their visas.

The Trump administration has also instructed U.S. diplomats to closely monitor visa applicants for potential anti-American sentiment or political activism. Officials emphasized that students and green card holders who are found to support Palestinians or criticize Israel’s military actions in Gaza could face deportation. The administration argues that such actions could be considered a threat to US foreign policy.

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USA Previously Canceled 6,000 Student Visas

In August 2025, the US State Department revoked more than 6,000 visas issued to international students for violating US laws or exceeding their permitted stay.

Many of these violations include crimes such as assault, driving under the influence (DUI) and theft, authorities said. A small number of cases were also linked to “support for terrorism”.

The move was part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration rules and increase scrutiny on foreign students studying in the United States.

Nearly 4,000 visas were revoked because students were found guilty of violating U.S. laws, according to the State Department. Additionally, between 200 and 300 visas were revoked under Section 3B of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which defines “terrorist activity” as actions that threaten human life or violate American laws.

Officials said the cancellations were made to protect national security and ensure visa holders comply with U.S. laws and regulations.