More than 100,000 visas revoked since trump’s return as U.S tightens migrant rules

The United States has revoked more than 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office, marking a record number of cancellations in a single year as his administration intensifies its anti-migrant agenda.

The State Department confirmed on Monday that the figure, recorded since Trump’s second inauguration on January 20, 2025, is two and a half times higher than the number of visas revoked in 2024 under former president Joe Biden.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the sweeping action reflected the administration’s priorities. He said protecting American citizens and upholding US sovereignty remained the Trump administration’s highest concern.

Officials said thousands of the revoked visas were linked to criminal offences, including assault and drunk driving, though they did not provide a detailed breakdown.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also drawn attention to the cancellation of visas held by foreign students who participated in protests against Israel. Rubio relied on a Cold War-era law that allows the US government to deny entry to foreign nationals deemed to be acting against American foreign policy interests.

Some of the high-profile cases, however, have faced legal pushback, with courts successfully blocking certain deportation orders.

According to the State Department, around 8,000 of the revoked visas were issued to students.

The administration has also tightened visa screening procedures more broadly, including expanding the monitoring of social media activity by visa applicants and visitors.

The mass visa cancellations form part of a wider deportation drive being carried out with increased enforcement, including a surge in federal agents.

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security said more than 605,000 people had been deported since Trump’s return to office, while an additional 2.5 million migrants left the country voluntarily.