WASHINGTON (AP) The State Department announced on Thursday that it is reviewing the records of over 55 million foreigners with valid U.S. visas for potential revocation or violations that could lead to deportation.
In a written response to a query from The Associated Press, the department stated that all U.S. visa holders are under “continuous vetting” to detect any signs of ineligibility for their visa status.
If such information is discovered, the visa will be invalidated, and if the holder is within the U.S., they may face deportation.
The department is searching for signs of ineligibility, including overstaying visas, participating in criminal activities, endangering public safety, involvement in any terrorist activities, or supporting terrorist organizations.
“As part of our vetting, we review all accessible information, including law enforcement or immigration records or any new information that surfaces post-visa issuance indicating potential ineligibility,” the department explained.
Since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, the administration has thus far concentrated on deporting migrants in the U.S. unlawfully as well as those with student and visitor exchange visas. The State Department’s updated language indicates that the re-vetting effort, acknowledged by officials as extensive, is even more comprehensive.
The administration has steadily imposed more and more restrictions and requirements on visa applicants, including requiring all visa seekers to submit to in-person interviews.
But the review of all visa holders appears to be a significant expansion of what had initially been a re-vetting process focused mainly on students who have been involved in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel activity.
Officials say the reviews will include all the visa holders’ social media accounts, law enforcement and immigration records in their home countries, along with any actionable violations of U.S. law committed while they were in the United States.
“As part of the Trump Administration’s commitment to protect U.S. national security and public safety, since Inauguration Day the State Department has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, as during the same time period last year,” the department said.
Earlier this week, the department said that since Trump returned to the White House, it has revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays and violations of local, state and federal law, the vast majority of which were assault, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and support for terrorism.
It said that about 4,000 of those 6,000 were due to actual infractions of laws and that approximately 200–300 visas were revoked for terrorism-related issues, including providing support for designated terrorist organizations or state sponsors of terrorism.
