Trump admin reviewing 55 million visas: Focus on deportable offences; 6,000 student visas already revoked

Donaald Trump (agencies)

The US state department is conducting a sweeping review of over 55 million valid visa holders as part of a broader vetting initiative aimed at identifying possible grounds for visa revocation and deportation, reported news agency AP.In a written response the department confirmed to the agency that all visa holders are subject to “continuous vetting,” which includes monitoring for any signs of ineligibility, such as overstays, criminal conduct, or links to terrorist activity. “If the visa holder is found ineligible, the visa will be revoked, and if the individual is present in the US, they will be subject to deportation,” the statement said.It added that the review process would include an examination of visa holders’ social media profiles, home-country law enforcement and immigration records, and any violations of US laws, including those committed after arrival.The initiative, which initially targeted student visa holders involved in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel activities, has now been expanded to cover all categories of visas.The department noted, “As part of the Trump administration’s commitment to protect US national security and public safety, since inauguration day the state department has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, as during the same time period last year,” as quoted by the agency. Earlier this week, officials reported revoking over 6,000 student visas since Trump’s return to office, citing violations such as overstaying visas and legal infractions including assault, driving under the influence, and terrorism-related activities. Of those, around 4,000 were revoked due to confirmed violations, and 200–300 were linked to terrorism or support for designated terrorist entities.The administration has previously mandated in-person interviews for nearly all visa applicants and imposed other layers of scrutiny. The current vetting expansion represents a significant escalation in post-issuance monitoring.