The State Department confirmed this week that more than 80,000 nonimmigrant visas have been revoked in 2025, including over 8,000 student visas, as part of President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on national security and immigration enforcement. The visa revocations reflect an effort to remove individuals linked to criminal behavior or potential threats to public safety.
According to the State Department, the top reasons for revocation included assault, theft, and driving under the influence. More than 16,000 visas were revoked for DUIs, 12,000 for assault, and 8,000 for theft—together accounting for nearly half of all cancellations this year. In a public statement, the department wrote, “Promises made, promises kept,” adding that President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “will always put the safety and interests of the American people first.”
The agency emphasized that visas can be revoked for various reasons, including indicators of overstays, criminal conduct, or support for terrorist organizations. Since returning to the White House, President Trump has strengthened vetting procedures, directing agencies to monitor online activity and identify visa holders with potential ties to anti-American sentiment or extremist ideologies.
On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order ensuring that visa holders “do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.”
The State Department also announced plans to require visa applicants to disclose social media accounts for government review, a move officials say will help prevent those who pose security risks from entering the country.
