The Trump administration has confirmed that it is reviewing the records of more than 55 million US visa holders in what amounts to one of the most extensive immigration crackdowns in modern American history.
In a move first reported by the Associated Press, the State Department said that every foreign national currently holding a valid US visa will be subject to “continuous vetting” for potential ineligibility, including those already living in the country. If violations are uncovered, visas will be revoked and, if the individual is in the United States, they may face deportation.
A State Department spokesperson said: “The State Department revokes visas any time there are indications of a potential ineligibility, which includes things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization.”
The announcement follows the administration’s decision earlier this week to incorporate checks for “anti-American” views, including on social media, into visa assessments.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it is expanding its reviews of online activity for all applicants seeking to live, work or study in the US. “Reviews for anti-American activity will be added to that vetting,” a USCIS spokesperson confirmed.
“America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies,” said Matthew Tragesser of USCIS. “Immigration benefits – including to live and work in the United States – remain a privilege, not a right.”
The Trump administration has also directed immigration authorities to consider whether applicants “promote antisemitic ideologies”, linking the measure to concerns about campus protests over Israel’s war in Gaza. Officials have accused students and universities of antisemitism and of providing support for terrorism – allegations that protesters strongly deny.
In April, the administration revoked or changed the legal status of hundreds of international students, only to reinstate them several weeks later. In May, student visa interviews were temporarily halted, before new social media vetting requirements were introduced in June.
Under the new rules, student applicants must provide access to their social media profiles, enabling US diplomats to review online content before granting educational or exchange visas. Refusal to comply is treated as grounds for suspicion.
Since Secretary of State Marco Rubio took office in January, the department says it has revoked 6,000 student visas. The majority – around 4,000 cases – were removed due to criminal offences including assault, burglary and driving under the influence, while others were linked to alleged “support for terrorism”.
With more than 55 million people now under review, the expansion marks a dramatic escalation of the administration’s immigration policies, heightening tensions with universities, businesses and foreign governments already unsettled by the White House’s hardline stance.
