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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, said that the State Department has already revoked “tens of thousands of visas” as the administration unleashes a sweeping crackdown on migration
“The State Department has revoked tens of thousands of visas, and they're just getting started on tens of thousands more...we have a new focus on denaturalization," Miller told Fox News.
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Why It Matters
Since President Trump returned to the White House, the United States has canceled several thousand visas, including many issued to students, imposed immigration restrictions on 19 countries, set a refugee cap of 7,500 with stated preference for applicants from white South African communities, and carried out tens of thousands of deportations, in some cases sending people to third countries under difficult conditions.
The administration’s aggressive enforcement push has drawn scrutiny after reports that nonviolent immigrants with valid visas were detained during recent operations. Those affected included foreign students and professionals critical of the administration, raising concerns among immigrant advocates and legal experts.
Several pro-Palestinian activists have had their green cards or visas revoked or faced detention, including activist Mahmoud Khalil and British Journalist Sami Hamdi.
What To Know
A spokesperson for the State Department told Newsweek the agency has revoked more than 80,000 nonimmigrant visas in the past year, over 8,000 of which were student visas, representing a sharp increase from 2024.
The department said visas are rescinded whenever there are indications that a holder may no longer qualify. Potential grounds include signs of overstaying, involvement in criminal activity, risks to public safety, or any links to terrorism or support for terrorist groups.
Data shared with the outlet indicated that the most common reasons for visa cancellations were offenses such as assault, theft, and driving under the influence. Together, these categories made up nearly half of all revocations this year. Roughly 16,000 visas were withdrawn in connection with DUI cases, more than 12,000 due to assault-related issues, and more than 8,000 in relation to theft, the department said.
The Trump administration has presented the rise in visa cancellations as part of a wider effort to enhance public safety and strengthen oversight of the immigration system. Officials say revocations can stem from a variety of issues, including criminal conduct, violations of visa conditions, certain online activity, or actions interpreted as supporting terrorist organizations.
Recent enforcement actions have also included cases involving pro-Palestinian demonstrators whose visas were withdrawn.
Officials have at times interpreted certain actions broadly, including statements critical of U.S. policy toward Israel, as potential grounds for revocation.
Since President Trump returned to the White House in January, the administration has reviewed visa holders’ social media activity as part of efforts to identify individuals who may be subject to cancellation.
What People Are Saying
Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the department, wrote on X: "The Trump Administration will not hesitate to revoke visas from foreigners who undermine our laws or threaten our national security."
What Happens Next
Officials have indicated that visa reviews and cancellations will continue in the coming months as part of the administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.
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