The United States has cancelled more than 100,000 visas within the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to figures released by the State Department on Monday.
A statement shared on the department’s official X account revealed that the revocations included about 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialised work permits. Officials said the action is part of a wider effort targeting foreign nationals involved in criminal activity or immigration violations.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration’s top priority is safeguarding U.S. citizens and enforcing national sovereignty. He added that many of the cancelled visas were linked to offences such as assault and drunk driving, describing the effort as part of an intensified deportation campaign supported by increased deployment of federal agents.
The administration has also strengthened visa screening measures, including expanded reviews of applicants’ social media activity.
The developments come after President Trump began his second term on 20 January 2025, reaffirming a hardline stance on immigration. Data from the Department of Homeland Security indicate that more than 605,000 people have been deported under the current administration, while around 2.5 million others remain in the country under different legal statuses.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the cancellation of visas issued to students involved in protests against Israel, citing U.S. laws that allow authorities to deny entry to foreigners deemed to be acting against American foreign policy interests.
