The US is reviewing records of more than 55 million visa holders, with officials warning visas may be revoked.
The US is reviewing records of more than 55 million visa holders, with officials warning visas may be revoked.
The United States has launched an unprecedented review of more than 55 million visa holders, warning that visas will be revoked if individuals are found to have violated immigration rules or engaged in activities deemed threats to national security.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that visa holders will now be subject to “continuous vetting.” Those flagged for overstaying, criminal activity, terrorist ties, or supporting extremist groups could have their visas cancelled.
“America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies,” said Matthew Tragesser, spokesperson for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). He stressed that immigration services are committed to implementing policies that “root out anti-Americanism.”
The vetting process will also examine social media activity, with officials instructed to look for signs of hostility toward the US, its citizens, government, or institutions. State Department officers have further been directed to identify individuals engaged in antisemitic violence or who support designated terrorist organisations.
President Donald Trump has made a hardline immigration stance central to his second administration. Since January, his government has implemented mass deportations, imposed travel bans on nationals from 12 countries, and placed partial restrictions on seven others. More than 6,000 student visas have already been revoked.
Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an immediate halt on issuing work visas for foreign truck drivers, citing risks to road safety and American jobs. “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives,” Rubio posted on X.
The administration has also tightened conditions for African visitors, requiring citizens from Malawi and Zambia to pay a $15,000 deposit for a tourist or business visa.
Civil liberties advocates have expressed concerns that the policies risk targeting individuals based on political expression, with several foreign students already arrested on US campuses for joining protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
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