Since Trump’s return to the White House, over 6,000 student visas have been canceled due to overstays and breaches of various laws at local, state, and federal levels.
WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the State Department announced that it is scrutinizing the records of more than 55 million international visitors with valid U.S. visas for any grounds that could lead to the revocation of their visas or deportation due to breaches of immigration regulations.
In a statement responding to an inquiry from The Associated Press, the department mentioned that all holders of U.S. visas are under “continuous vetting” to detect any signs of potential ineligibility for holding the visa.
If such information is uncovered, the visa would be canceled. If the individual is in the United States, they would face deportation proceedings.
The department is investigating cases of ineligibility, which include staying beyond the visa period, involvement in criminal activities, being a threat to public safety, participating in terrorist activities, or supporting terrorist organizations.
“Our vetting process reviews all pertinent information, including law enforcement records or any new information that arises post-visa issuance that could indicate potential ineligibility,” the department stated.
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, his administration has thus far focused on deporting migrants illegally in the United States as well as holders of student and visitor exchange visas. The State Department’s new language suggests that the re-vetting process, which officials acknowledge is time-consuming, is far more widespread.
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.
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