The short version
- Visa cancellations have surged to over 175,000 since the new administration began, significantly outpacing the roughly 40,000 revocations recorded in the final year of the Biden presidency.
- Officials attribute the increase to a continuous vetting system that screens millions of visa holders for criminal activity, security threats, and violations of status terms.
- The scope of revocations includes serious felonies as well as controversial cases involving political commentary and birth tourism, raising questions about the boundaries of enforcement.
The United States Department of State has announced a substantial increase in the cancellation of foreign visas, reporting that more than 175,000 have been revoked since Donald Trump returned to the White House. This figure represents a dramatic acceleration in enforcement activity compared to the previous administration, which saw approximately 40,000 revocations during Joe Biden’s final year in office. The current pace has climbed steadily, rising from roughly 8,000 cancellations per month in 2025 to over 10,000 monthly in 2026, signaling a more aggressive approach to immigration compliance.
According to department officials, these actions are the result of a continuous vetting system implemented last year. This mechanism screens approximately 55 million foreign nationals who hold valid US visas, looking for indicators that they no longer satisfy the conditions required for their status. The administration frames this process as a necessary measure to protect national security and uphold the integrity of the immigration system, emphasizing that entry into the country is a privilege rather than an inherent right.
The stated grounds for revocation are broad, encompassing individuals who allegedly violated visa terms, committed crimes, or engaged in fraud. Law enforcement encounters frequently trigger these cancellations, with assault, drunk driving, theft, and drug offenses cited as leading causes. More severe allegations include sexual assault, child abuse, and reckless driving. The department highlighted specific cases to illustrate the severity of some infractions, including a man charged with felony rape involving a victim with a mental disability and another accused of kidnapping and sexually exploiting a minor.
However, the data released by the State Department does not break down the 175,000 figure by category. This lack of granularity leaves it unclear how many revocations stem from serious criminal convictions versus lesser infractions, such as overstaying a visa or minor traffic violations. Critics and observers note that without this distinction, it is difficult to assess whether the surge in cancellations reflects a targeted crackdown on dangerous individuals or a broader net cast over minor compliance issues.
Beyond criminal conduct, several revocations have involved political speech and expression, drawing significant attention. One prominent case involves Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University whose visa was canceled after she co-wrote an opinion piece criticizing the university’s stance on the war in Gaza. Although immigration authorities detained her, a judge later dismissed the case, and she has since returned to Turkey. The department also noted cancellations for foreign nationals who commented on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including one individual who stated that Kirk had “died too late.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also identified deportable individuals based on foreign policy grounds. This includes a Cuban national linked to an influence campaign tied to Havana, Iranian nationals connected to Tehran’s government, and a Kuwaiti national accused of voicing hostility toward the US president. These cases suggest that the administration is using visa revocations as a tool for diplomatic leverage and counterintelligence efforts, extending beyond traditional immigration enforcement.
The department also targeted parents accused of traveling to the United States primarily so their children could be born with American citizenship. A US embassy in North Africa canceled more than 100 visas in this category. This effort aligns with broader executive actions by Trump to restrict birth tourism, a policy that has faced legal challenges following a setback at the Supreme Court. The intersection of visa revocations and constitutional questions regarding citizenship remains a contentious area of legal and political debate.
It is important to distinguish between visa cancellations and deportations. While the State Department handles the former, the Department of Homeland Security manages removals. DHS reports that more than 605,000 people have been removed from the country since Trump took office, a figure the administration describes as part of the largest deportation operation in US history. The visa revocations serve as an initial step in this process, stripping individuals of their legal status and making them subject to removal proceedings.
One specific case highlighted by the department involved Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national deported last month. Vang had been pardoned weeks earlier by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for a 2005 conviction involving child sexual abuse. The timing of his deportation following the pardon underscores the complex interplay between state-level clemency and federal immigration enforcement. As the vetting system continues to operate, the volume of cancellations is expected to remain high, reflecting the administration’s prioritization of strict adherence to visa conditions.
The implications of this policy shift extend beyond individual cases, affecting diplomatic relations and the perception of US openness to foreign nationals. The lack of detailed statistical breakdowns limits public understanding of how many revocations are driven by security concerns versus political or administrative factors. As the system processes millions of records, the balance between national security and due process will likely remain a central point of contention in immigration policy discussions.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗US state department has canceled over 175,000 visas since Trump’s return to office
