The United States Department of State announced that it has revoked nearly 80,000 non-immigrant visas since Donald Trump's return to the White House in January, more than double the number of cancellations recorded last year. The measure, framed within a stricter security policy, seeks to strengthen immigration control and protect American citizens.
According to official figures, the main reasons for revocation were crimes such as driving under the influence of alcohol (16,000 cases), assault (12,000), and theft (8,000). These three categories account for nearly half of the visas canceled in 2025. Among those affected are more than 8,000 foreign students, whose permits were withdrawn as part of a new verification process.
''President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will always put the security and interests of the American people first'', the Department of State stated in a statement published on X.
According to the agency, a visa can be revoked for multiple reasons: suspected overstays, criminal records, threats to public security, or links to terrorist activities.
The administration has also expanded the definition of ''support for terrorism'' to include public expressions considered hostile toward the United States or its allies, such as Israel.
In compliance with an executive order signed by Trump on the first day of his term, the government began reviewing the social media accounts of visa applicants and holders. Since mid-year, applicants must make their digital profiles public to allow for a more comprehensive evaluation during consular interviews.
