The U.S. State Department announced Monday that it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office nearly one year ago, marking the most aggressive visa cancellation campaign in American history and representing a 150 percent increase over the previous year. The revocations include approximately 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized work visas, part of a sweeping effort the administration says targets foreign nationals with criminal encounters, though many critics allege the policy disproportionately punishes political activists and protected speech.
“We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the State Department declared in its announcement across social media platforms. The statement came as Trump doubled down on his immigration policies during a Tuesday speech at the Detroit Economic Club, where he vowed that naturalized citizens convicted of fraud would have their citizenships revoked.
Continuous Vetting Center Monitors 55 Million Visa Holders
Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson at the State Department, confirmed that the administration launched a “Continuous Vetting Center” designed to ensure compliance among all 55 million people with valid U.S. visas. The center conducts ongoing surveillance of visa holders, including scrutiny of social media posts, with swift revocation powers for those deemed threats to American citizens.
“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.”
Tommy Pigott, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson
Under this system, visa holders face potential deportation for violations discovered through continuous monitoring. Pigott stated that revocations primarily targeted individuals charged or convicted of crimes, including assault, theft, and driving under the influence, though the State Department has not clarified whether all encounters resulted in formal charges.
Students Targeted for Campus Activism
International students have faced particular scrutiny, with many targeted for pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses. An executive order signed on January 29, 2025, characterized such students as antisemitic and authorized deportation actions. High-profile cases include Columbia University students Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent legal resident, and international students Ranjani Srinivasan and Rumeysa Ozturk.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally signed off on hundreds of visa revocations, primarily affecting students, stating in March 2025: “It could be more than 300 at this stage. We do this daily. Whenever I encounter one of these extremists, I revoke their visas.” The Marshall Project reported that more than 300 student visas were revoked, with Rubio declaring, “Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas”.
A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled in September 2025 that the deportation campaign violated the First Amendment, describing the administration’s actions as a “full-throated assault on the First Amendment” in a 161-page decision. Despite successful legal challenges by some students, the broader policy remains in effect.
Fatal Shooting Intensifies Immigration Debate
The visa revocations occurred amid heightened tensions following the January 7 shooting death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan Ross during an operation in Minneapolis. An ABC News frame-by-frame analysis showed Good turning her steering wheel away from the agent just over one second before he fired three shots through her windshield.
The shooting sparked nationwide protests and intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the agent’s actions “reckless” and told ICE to “get the f--- out of Minneapolis,” according to reports. The incident marked one of at least 13 times since July that immigration agents shot at or into vehicles, according to a Time magazine analysis.
Expanded Travel Ban and H-1B Visa Restrictions
The administration has dramatically expanded its travel restrictions to 39 countries, up from 19 nations in June 2025, with complete bans now affecting predominantly Muslim-majority, African, and Caribbean nations. The December 2025 expansion added Syria, Palestine, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and South Sudan to the full ban list.
In September 2025, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B work visas, representing a 10-20 times increase over previous costs and fundamentally altering a program that allocates 85,000 visas annually. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the fee, stating: “If you’re going to train someone, it should be a recent graduate from one of our esteemed universities. We need to train Americans”.
Temporary Protected Status Under Threat
The administration has also attempted to remove Temporary Protected Status for citizens from countries experiencing civil war or natural disasters, targeting Afghans, Syrians, Haitians, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, Somalis, South Sudanese, and Ethiopians. Civil rights organizations have condemned these policies as discriminatory attacks on vulnerable populations fleeing persecution and violence.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations and other advocacy groups characterize the immigration crackdown as violating constitutional rights to free speech and due process, particularly regarding the targeting of activists for their political views. As the administration continues its aggressive enforcement posture, legal challenges mount while thousands of visa holders face uncertainty about their status and future in the United States.