Post by : Rameen Ariff

The Trump administration has annulled roughly 80,000 non-immigrant visas since taking office, a senior State Department official confirmed on Wednesday, reflecting an expanded enforcement approach to immigration and visa controls.

Officials attribute many cancellations to a mix of criminal offenses: about 16,000 were linked to driving under the influence, 12,000 to assault, and 8,000 to theft — together representing nearly half of the total revocations.

"These three crimes alone have contributed significantly to this year’s visa revocations," the State Department source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The tally underscores a policy that reaches beyond undocumented migrants to include holders of valid visas judged to have broken US laws or to have acted against policy guidelines.

In August, the department disclosed that more than 6,000 student visas had been canceled for overstays and other violations, with a small number tied to alleged support for terrorism. The US has also tightened social media reviews and imposed more rigorous vetting procedures for applicants.

Last month, authorities said at least six individuals lost visas after making contentious social media posts about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed that visa limits will remain in place for people engaged in conduct seen as "contrary to US foreign policy interests," a category that officials have indicated can include public support for Palestine or criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Diplomats have been instructed to watch visa applicants closely for signs of political activism, with some activities characterized by officials as national security concerns. Critics counter that the policy risks conflating law enforcement with political suppression and could impinge on free speech and due process.

As enforcement intensifies, the scale of these cancellations signals a sustained hardline stance that links domestic legal enforcement with Washington’s broader foreign policy priorities.

#Global