The US State Department cancels 100,000 visas during Trump's presidency
In a dramatic shift reflecting the new administration's hardline policies, the US State Department announced on Monday the cancellation of more than 100,000 visas to the United States since President Donald Trump's return to the White House for a second term. This measure, part of a broader crackdown on immigration, represents a record number of cancellations in such a short period, raising serious questions about the future of travel and scholarships to the United States.
Record numbers and comparisons with the Biden era
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that these steps are in line with the current administration's vision, stating, "There is no higher priority for the Trump administration than protecting American citizens and safeguarding American sovereignty." Official data indicates that the announced figure represents two and a half times the total number of visas revoked during the entirety of 2024, when President Joe Biden was in office, highlighting the stark difference in visa policy between the two administrations.
Causes: From criminal offenses to political stances
The reasons cited by US authorities for the visa revocations varied. The State Department explained that thousands of visas were revoked due to criminal records, including charges of assault and driving under the influence. However, the revocations were not solely based on criminal matters, but also included political and ideological dimensions.
In this context, Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the revocation of visas for foreign students who participated in protests on American university campuses condemning the Israeli occupation and the war in Gaza. Rubio justified his actions by citing long-standing laws that grant the United States the right to bar entry or residency to foreigners deemed opponents of U.S. foreign policy, a move that represents a strict application of legal provisions previously used more narrowly.
Tightening control over students and social media platforms
The data revealed that approximately 8,000 of the revoked visas belonged to international students. Simultaneously, the Trump administration tightened security vetting procedures for issuing or renewing visas. These procedures included a thorough review of applicants' social media posts to search for any content that could be interpreted as hostile to the United States or its policies—an extension of the "extreme vetting" policy Trump had touted during his election campaigns.
Historical context and broader deportation campaigns
These actions cannot be separated from the broader context of Trump's "America First" policy, which focuses primarily on reducing immigration and securing the borders. The current visa revocations are part of a wider campaign of mass deportations, carried out through the deployment of federal forces in several American cities.
In a striking statistic, the Department of Homeland Security announced last month that the Trump administration had successfully deported more than 605,000 people, while approximately 2.5 million others left the country voluntarily for fear of persecution or forced deportation. These developments suggest that the coming period may witness further complications in travel and immigration procedures to the United States, which could impact diplomatic relations and cultural and academic exchange programs with countries around the world.
