The United States has revoked more than 100,000 visas in the past year under President Donald Trump’s administration, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of State.
The State Department disclosed that about 8,000 of the revoked visas belonged to students, while 2,500 were specialised visas issued to individuals who had encounters with U.S. law enforcement over criminal activities.
In a post on its official X handle, the department stated:
“The State Department has now revoked over 100,000 visas, including some 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialised visas for individuals who had encounters with U.S. law enforcement for criminal activity. We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe.”
The Department of Homeland Security had earlier reported that more than 605,000 people have been deported during the period, while an additional 2.5 million migrants left the country voluntarily.
State Department spokesman, Tommy Pigott, said the visa revocations align with the administration’s hardline stance on immigration and security.
“The Trump administration has no higher priority than protecting American citizens and upholding American sovereignty,” Pigott said.
The figure represents a sharp increase, as the number of visas revoked since Trump’s second inauguration on January 20, 2025, is more than double those revoked in 2024, when former President Joe Biden was in office.
The State Department noted that thousands of the visas were withdrawn due to criminal offences, including assault and drunk driving.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that some visas were revoked from foreign students who participated in protests against Israel. Rubio relied on a Cold War-era law that allows the U.S. to deny entry or revoke visas of foreigners deemed to be acting against American foreign policy.
However, reports indicate that some of the affected individuals have successfully challenged deportation orders in court, raising fresh debates over civil liberties and immigration enforcement in the United States.
