The Republican administration has revoked the visas of criminals who have committed crimes and has carried out a verification process for university students
The policy has also had consequences in specific cases. In October, the Department of State revoked the visas of six foreigners who celebrated online the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, stating that ''the United States has no obligation to host people who wish death upon its citizens''.
The government's hardline stance is also reflected in the reduction in the number of visas issued. In May 2025, 897,937 non-immigrant visas were approved, 16% fewer than in May 2024, and 46,751 immigrant visas, a decrease of 20% compared to the previous year.
In the academic field, the Department of State ordered a pause in interviews for student visas with the aim of strengthening review processes, especially the analysis of social networks.
''Coming to the United States with a visa is a privilege, not a right'', declared Secretary Rubio, who also announced the revocation of visas for students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, in response to concerns about espionage and foreign propaganda.
The government also introduced more restrictive measures for labor programs such as H-1B, imposing a fee of $100,000 on companies that hire foreign workers.
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 Among those affected are more than 8,000 foreign students, whose permits were withdrawn as part of a new verification process.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.
