Just 41 days before Donald Trump completes his first year in the White House, the US government revealed a figure that shakes up the immigration landscape: 85,000 visas have been revoked during this presidential term. The measure is part of the hard line that the Trump 2.0 administration has resumed under the slogan «Make America Safe Again», reinforcing a strict immigration policy and permanent surveillance.
The information was confirmed by the State Department and backed by Secretary Marco Rubio, who assured that these actions will continue to intensify in the coming months.
Trump 2.0 immigration policies: Stricter and with greater oversight
The Donald Trump administration has made it clear that no type of visa, whether for tourism, work, study, or business, guarantees automatic entry into the United States. Nor does it ensure renewal or permanence.
The State Department reiterated that the goal is to maintain strict surveillance of all visa holders, ensuring that they do not pose a risk to national security or violate immigration terms.
The administration noted: «85,000 visa revocations since January. President Trump and Secretary Rubio adhere to a simple mandate and will not stop anytime soon».
Profiles at greater risk of visa revocation in the United States
According to a report, almost half of the revocations recorded in the last year are related to criminal behavior such as:
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Physical assaults
- Theft or other minor crimes
In addition, any indication of links to terrorist activities, support for extremist organizations, or threats to public safety are immediate grounds for cancellation.
The State Department explained that it revokes visas as soon as it detects:
- Prolonged stays or intent to remain illegally
- Criminal activity or activity linked to violence
- Signs of radicalization or expressions that incite terrorism
- Risks to national security
Read more: The United States transfers 14 prisoners convicted of federal crimes to Mexico
8,000 students lost their visas during the year
One of the most controversial figures is the number of students affected: 8,000 student visas were revoked.
Analysts and civil organizations believe that these measures may border on violations of the First Amendment, especially given the warning that students who participate in protests related to the war in Gaza, express anti-Israel views, or show sympathy for causes associated with terrorism could automatically lose their visas.
The United States is keeping 55 million tourists and visitors with valid visas under review, expanding monitoring especially of young foreigners with academic status.
H1-B visas under scrutiny: Comprehensive investigation for highly skilled workers
The US government also announced that it will launch a “comprehensive investigation” into H1-B visas, used for highly skilled workers in engineering, technology, health, and science.
This type of visa has been crucial for companies in Silicon Valley and other technology hubs, but the Trump administration has questioned whether some companies have abused the program.
The goal will be to identify:
- Patterns of fraud
- Companies that do not comply with labor standards
- Cases of workers who do not perform the approved functions
- Potential national security risks
As part of the new immigration approach, the United States will thoroughly review the more than 55 million foreigners who hold valid visas. This is part of an expanded security strategy that seeks to detect potential violations or risky behavior in advance.
