TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REVOKES OVER 300,000 US VISAS AMID IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
The administration of US President Donald Trump says it has revoked more than 300,000 visas since he returned to the White House in January 2025, as the government intensifies its immigration enforcement measures.
The US Department of State announced the figure on Tuesday, October 20, saying the administration had withdrawn visas at a faster pace than any previous administration.
The latest total represents a sharp increase from the more than 175,000 revocations reported by the department in August. In January, officials said the number had crossed 100,000.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the administration would continue to take action against foreign nationals who violate US laws, commit fraud, or pose threats to national security.
“We have zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law, commit fraud or undermine our national security,” Pigott said in a post on X.
According to a State Department official quoted by Al Jazeera, the majority of the revocations involved criminal activity, public-safety concerns, immigration violations, fraud, misrepresentation, or other information indicating that the individuals were no longer eligible for visas.
The official disclosed that more than 4,000 visas had been revoked in cases involving people accused of engaging in or facilitating birth tourism, a practice in which foreign nationals travel to the United States primarily to give birth so their children can obtain US citizenship.
The department also said 25 per cent of the revocations associated with criminal activity or public-safety concerns involved assault and related offences, while 22 per cent involved driving under the influence. Theft accounted for seven per cent, with another seven per cent linked to substance abuse or distribution.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration expands its immigration crackdown through stricter visa screening, increased scrutiny of applicants’ online activities, and efforts to deport foreign nationals.
In September, the State Department announced an expansion of its online presence review for additional visa categories, including foreign media representatives and certain professionals covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The expanded requirements took effect on October 1.
The administration has also faced criticism over its treatment of foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestinian protests and people whose social media comments about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk prompted visa action.
Rights advocates have argued that the administration’s enforcement measures threaten free speech and due process, while raising concerns about racial profiling and the targeting of immigrant communities.
Trump has defended his immigration policies as necessary to protect national security and improve domestic safety. His administration maintains that visa holders must comply with US laws and the conditions under which their visas were issued.
The latest figures reflect the administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration enforcement, including measures affecting people who entered the country legally. The State Department has not provided a complete public breakdown of all 300,000-plus revocations by visa category or nationality.