US Revokes Over 100,000 Visas in 2025 as Trump Administration Tightens Immigration Controls
By Enemona Samuel Endurance | The Bureau News
The United States has revoked more than 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump assumed office in January 2025, marking the highest number of visa cancellations recorded in a single year, according to the US State Department.
Officials disclosed that the revocations include approximately 8,000 student visas and about 2,500 specialised visa categories, with enforcement actions largely targeting foreign nationals involved in criminal offences.
State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, said the primary reasons for the cancellations were visa overstays, driving under the influence, assault, theft, and other criminal encounters.
Pigott noted that the figure represents a 150 percent increase compared to visa revocations recorded in 2024, describing the surge as part of a broader effort to strengthen immigration enforcement and public safety.
As part of the new enforcement framework, the State Department has established a Continuous Vetting Center designed to monitor foreign nationals residing in the United States.
According to Pigott, the initiative aims to ensure that all visa holders comply with US laws, while enabling authorities to swiftly revoke visas issued to individuals deemed a threat to public safety or national security.
In November 2025, the department had earlier announced that roughly 80,000 non-immigrant visas had been cancelled since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, with offences ranging from traffic-related violations to violent crimes.
Additionally, US diplomats stationed abroad have been instructed to apply heightened scrutiny to visa applicants perceived to be hostile to the United States or with records of political activism that could raise security concerns.
The Trump administration has consistently argued that the measures are necessary to protect American citizens and uphold the integrity of the country’s immigration system.
