Trump admin revoked 85,000 visas since January amid major crackdown on illegal immigrants: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: A State Department official has said that the Donald Trump administration has canceled 85,000 visas of all kinds since January, which is more than twice the number of those that were canceled last year.
The heavy emphasis on immigration and its aftereffects on access to the US is the main reason for the large number of visa revocations, which also comprise over 8,000 student visas, CNN reported.
These revocations are part of a Trump administration's campaign that is aimed at both targeting immigrant communities in the US and restricting the number of people who can enter the country.
Expirations and ‘support for terrorism’ as reasons justifying revoking visas
The cancellations have caused a stir regarding the First Amendment rights of the students, as the officials of the administration have singled out foreign students most vocal in their opposition to the war in Gaza and have charged them with antisemitism, as well as with aiding terrorists.
Also, in October, the State Department communicated that it had canceled some visas of people who were alleged to have ‘celebrated’ the murder of Charlie Kirk.
The department official said that offenses like driving under the influence, assaults, and theft accounted for “almost half of the revocations in the past year.”
They did not detail the reasons for the other half of visa revocations this year, however, the department has previously pointed to visa expirations and “support for terrorism” in justifying pulling visas.
Trump admin might implement ‘continuous vetting’ for all 55 million-plus foreign nationals in the US
A State Department official stated recently that the agency planned to implement a policy of 'continuous vetting' of 'all of the more than 55 million foreigners' who held valid US visas.
“The State Department revokes visas any time there are indications of a potential ineligibility, which includes things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization,” that official said at the time.
“We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance indicating a potential ineligibility,” they said.
One of the very serious measures by the State Department during President Donald Trump's second term has been the expansion of the ways in which consular officers can check visa applicants and deny them a visa if they so decide.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been a major supporter of the Trump administration’s approach to student visa suspension.
Besides the State Department’s policies on visa denial and revocation, the Department of Homeland Security has been very active in the execution of detention and deportation strategies.
The administration has practically stopped refugee resettlement and announced that it would be reviewing all refugees that came in under the Biden administration.
