- Over 85,000 U.S. visas were revoked in 2025—double the 2024 total. These include 8,000 student visas, with nearly half tied to criminal offenses (DUI, assault, theft). The remainder were revoked for overstays, alleged terrorism ties and scrutiny of pro-Palestinian protestors.
- Fifty-five million foreign nationals with U.S. visas are now under comprehensive review. Policy allows revocation for any ineligibility, including criminal activity, terrorism links or social media posts.
- Social media monitoring was intensified. Applicants were urged to keep their profiles public or risk suspicion. Critics warn of a chilling effect on free speech, especially for foreign students in protests. Supreme Court precedent (Bridges v. Wixon) affirms noncitizens’ First Amendment rights, but enforcement remains contentious.
- Expanded immigration crackdown includes DHS-led detentions, frozen refugee programs and travel bans from 19+ countries (plans to expand to 30-32). Rubio revoked visas for foreigners celebrating political violence, signaling zero-tolerance policies.
- “Continuous vetting” is now standard as visas can be canceled retroactively based on new information. Rubio vows further restrictions, prioritizing security over civil liberties, leaving foreign students, workers and travelers in uncertainty.
In a sweeping crackdown on immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has revoked more than 85,000 U.S. visas since January 2025—more than double the number canceled in 2024—according to a senior Department of State official.
The revoked visas include roughly 8,000 student visas, with nearly half linked to criminal offenses such as Driving Under the Influence (DUI), assaults and theft. The remaining revocations involve overstays, alleged terrorism ties and heightened scrutiny of foreign students engaged in political protests, particularly pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, the administration has also initiated a comprehensive review of all 55 million foreign nationals holding valid U.S. visas. To some, this signals a new era of stringent oversight under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s leadership.
Criminal activity and national security drive revocations
The State Department official, speaking anonymously to the Epoch Times, confirmed that crimes like DUIs, assaults and theft accounted for nearly half of the visa revocations.
“These are people who pose a direct threat to our communities’ safety, and we do not want to have them in our country,” the official said.
While the department did not specify reasons for the remaining revocations, past statements indicate terrorism-related concerns and visa overstays played a significant role.
In September, Rubio announced the revocation of visas for foreigners allegedly celebrating the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, writing on X: “Visa revocations are underway. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported.” By October, six foreign nationals had their visas canceled under this policy.
Expanded vetting and First Amendment concerns
The Trump administration’s aggressive visa screening has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups, particularly over expanded social media monitoring. A Dec. 3 State Department advisory urged visa applicants to keep their profiles public during review, stating: “We conduct thorough vetting of all visa applicants, including online presence review.”
New guidelines require student visa applicants to be screened for “hostile attitudes towards our citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles.” A diplomatic cable warned that limited social media visibility “could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity.” Critics argue such measures risk chilling free speech, especially for foreign students involved in protests.
The legal boundaries remain contentious. The Supreme Court’s 1945 Bridges v. Wixon ruling affirmed that noncitizens retain First Amendment protections even in deportation proceedings. Yet Rubio has extended the administration’s policies, recently restricting visas for Nigerians accused of violence against Christians “in Nigeria and beyond.”
Broader immigration crackdown and future restrictions
The visa revocations align with the Trump administration’s broader immigration agenda, including Department of Homeland Security (DHS)- led detention campaigns, frozen refugee resettlement and travel bans from 19 countries—a list DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly seeks to expand to 30-32 nations following a shooting involving an Afghan national in Washington, D.C.
A State Department official in August announced “continuous vetting” for all 55 million visa holders, stating: “We review all available information… including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.”
The Trump administration’s record visa revocations mark a dramatic escalation in immigration enforcement, prioritizing public safety and national security—but at the cost of heightened scrutiny that critics warn may infringe on free speech. With continuous vetting now policy and Rubio vowing further restrictions, the U.S. appears poised for even stricter controls on who can enter—and stay—in the country. As debates over security versus civil liberties intensify, the implications for foreign students, workers and travelers remain uncertain.
Watch the video below that talks about Trump halting new visa interviews for international students.
This video is from Children Are NOT Sex Toys! channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
YourNews.com
Edition.CNN.com
BrightU.ai
Brighteon.com
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