News|Donald TrumpUS revokes more than 100,000 visas since Trump’s return to officeThe US State Department says visa revocations have more than doubled as President Trump continues his immigration crackdown.
The U.S. State Department has announced the revocation of over 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office. This action is part of the administration's intensified efforts to address immigration issues.
The U.S. State Department has announced the revocation of over 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office. This action is part of the administration's intensified efforts to address immigration issues.
According to the State Department, the revocations include 8,000 visas of students and 2,500 of specialized workers. The majority of these revocations were due to encounters with U.S. law enforcement for criminal activities. However, it remains unclear if these encounters led to formal charges.
The administration has reported overseeing more than 2.5 million voluntary departures and deportations, describing it as a significant achievement. Some of these deportations have involved individuals holding valid visas, which has raised concerns regarding due process.
The State Department has implemented stricter policies for visa issuance, including enhanced social media vetting and expanded screening processes. A new Continuous Vetting Center has been established to ensure compliance with U.S. laws by foreign nationals. This center's objective is to swiftly revoke visas for individuals posing threats to American citizens.
The State Department has identified the leading causes for visa revocations as overstays, driving under the influence, assault, and theft. These revocations represent a 150 percent increase from the previous year, according to Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
State Department has announced the revocation of over 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Additionally, U.S. diplomats have been instructed to exercise caution regarding visa applicants perceived as potentially hostile to the U.S. or with a history of political activism.
Since the President's inauguration, approximately 80,000 non-immigrant visas have been revoked for various offenses, further reflecting the administration's focus on immigration enforcement.
Critics have expressed concerns that the administration's broad approach targets both criminals and non-criminals, potentially infringing on First Amendment rights. Instances such as the revocation of visas for student protesters involved in pro-Palestinian activism have drawn particular scrutiny.
In October, the State Department announced the removal of visas from six foreign nationals who had expressed views online perceived as threatening, raising further debate on free speech implications.
There is also public concern regarding the methods employed during immigration enforcement, with incidents sparking nationwide protests.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.