Trump’s Vetting Order Leads to Cancellation of 1 Lakh+ Visas, Including 8,000 Student Permits

Over 1 Lakh Visas, Including 8,000 Student Permits, Revoked Under Trump’s Immigration Crackdown.

The US government revoked over 100,000 visas in 2025, including roughly 8,000 student visas, as part of a major crackdown on immigration tied to criminal activity. The figure is more than double the number of revocations in 2024, the final year of President Joe Biden’s administration, when around 40,000 visas were cancelled.

According to a State Department update on X, the revoked visas also included 2,500 specialised work permits held by individuals with prior encounters with US law enforcement.

“We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the department said.

Most cancellations affected tourists and business visitors who overstayed their visas, while among specialised workers, about half were linked to drink-driving arrests. Other reasons included assault, theft, child abuse, drug-related offences, fraud, and embezzlement.

Nearly 500 students lost visas due to drug possession and distribution, and hundreds of foreign workers had visas revoked over allegations of child abuse.

Continuous Vetting and Enhanced Screening

The surge in visa cancellations follows a day-one executive order from President Trump tightening vetting of foreign nationals. In August 2025, the administration announced a review of all 55 million visa holders, establishing a “continuous vetting centre” to monitor foreign nationals for criminal or security risks.

“The Trump administration will continue to put America first and protect our nation from foreign nationals who pose a risk to public safety or national security,” said Tommy Piggott, State Department principal deputy spokesperson.

Visa rules have also been tightened, including stricter enforcement of the “public charge” policy, which allows officials to deny visas to applicants likely to rely on public benefits.

From December 15, 2025, the State Department began enhanced screening of H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, including social media checks. Several H-1B interviews in India were postponed, leaving many applicants stranded for months while awaiting visa stamping.