US revokes 85,000 visas since January amid massive immigration and security crackdown
The official said the biggest reasons for revoking visas were “DUIs, assaults, and theft,” which made up nearly half of all cases.
PTC News Desk: The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that it has revoked 85,000 visas since January, highlighting how quickly the Trump administration is tightening immigration enforcement and national-security checks.
In a post on X, the department wrote: “85,000 visa revocations since January. President Trump and Secretary Rubio follow one simple mandate, and they won’t stop anytime soon.” The post also featured an image of Trump with the slogan “Make America Safe Again,” underscoring that visa restrictions are a key part of the administration’s security strategy.
A State Department official told CNN that the total includes over 8,000 student visas — twice as many as last year. The official said the biggest reasons for revoking visas were “DUIs, assaults, and theft,” which made up nearly half of all cases. These offenses, the official said, indicate individuals who could “directly threaten community safety.” The government did not reveal all the other reasons for revocations but has previously mentioned visa overstays, criminal concerns, and suspected ties to terrorism. CNN also reported that the administration has been increasingly targeting international students involved in pro-Gaza campus protests, at times accusing them of antisemitism or extremist support.
The jump in visa cancellations coincides with the expansion of a continuous vetting policy covering all 55 million people holding valid U.S. visas, allowing the government to cancel visas at any time if new information appears. The administration has already restricted travel from 19 countries, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem now wants to expand that list to 30–32 countries after an Afghan national was charged in a shooting that injured two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
Over the past week, the administration has also tightened other immigration pathways:
- USCIS said it will review green card applications from people in “countries of concern.”
- The agency has paused all asylum decisions.
- The State Department confirmed it is stopping visa processing for Afghans who helped U.S. forces.