Trump administration cancels 80,000 visas over crime, dissent

US President Donald Trump’s administration has canceled roughly 80,000 non-immigrant visas since assuming office on January 20.

Citing a senior State Department official, media reports said that the visas were revoked over offences such as driving under the influence, assault, and theft, marking a significant escalation in the government’s immigration enforcement efforts.

The large-scale action underscores the administration’s crackdown on immigration, which has led to a record number of deportations, including individuals who previously held valid visas.

Officials said the State Department has implemented stricter rules for issuing visas, expanding background checks to include more detailed social media reviews and other enhanced screening measures.

Of the total revocations, about 16,000 were linked to DUI cases, approximately 12,000 to assault charges, and around 8,000 to theft-related offenses—figures that together represent nearly half of the total visa cancellations this year.

In August, the State Department announced that more than 6,000 student visas had been withdrawn for overstaying or violating US laws, with a small number revoked due to suspected ties to terrorism. Last month, officials also confirmed the cancellation of visas belonging to at least six individuals over online remarks concerning the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Earlier in May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that he had personally ordered the revocation of hundreds, possibly thousands, of visas—including those of students—in cases where individuals were deemed to be involved in activities contrary to US foreign policy goals.

This year, the State Department instructed American diplomats abroad to apply heightened scrutiny to visa applicants, particularly those perceived as hostile to the United States or engaged in political activism.