A senior State Department official said the United States has revoked 85,000 visas across several categories this year, calling the move part of a broader push to strengthen public safety and protect communities across the country.
“We’ve revoked 85,000 visas of all categories, including more than 8,000 students, which is more than double the numbers the year before,” said a State Department official while answering a question.
“Some of the top reasons why we revoked the visas were DUIs, assaults, and theft, which together account for almost half of the revocations in the past year. These are people who pose a direct threat to our communities’ safety, and we do not want to have them in our country,” as per an anonymous official.
The official added that the administration continues to apply strict scrutiny to visa applicants, especially those coming from regions assessed as high risk. “I think this administration has always had concerns with the security in Afghanistan [following the withdrawal] and making sure that we can appropriately vet and validate that visa applicants won’t be a threat,” the official told reflecting on the country.
READ: Social media screening sparks H-1B turmoil: Visa appointments in India pushed to mid-2026 (
Underscoring that the process will not be sped up under any circumstances, the official said the government intends to maintain a cautious approach. “We will take as much time as it takes, and we will not issue a visa until we are sure the applicant does not pose a threat to Americans’ safety and security.”
The official was also asked whether involvement in fact checking or content moderation work, including roles with social media platforms or civil society groups, could now be considered grounds for a visa denial under the Trump administration’s newly introduced policies.
“Freedom of speech is a fundamental American value, and the Trump Administration is defending Americans from foreigners who wish to censor them,” the official said. “That’s why Secretary Rubio instituted in May a visa restriction targeting foreign nationals who censor Americans.”
READ: Trump administration revokes 80,000 visas in immigration crackdown (
However, the official noted that decisions in these situations are not based on any single factor. “When determining whether an applicant qualifies for a visa, consular officers look not just at one single factor, but at the totality of an individual’s circumstances, then they make a case-by-case determination regarding eligibility for a U.S. visa,” according to the official.
The increased scrutiny coincides with ongoing adjustments to U.S. immigration and vetting procedures following the 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which left thousands of people applying for resettlement or special visa programs. U.S. officials have emphasized that all Afghan applicants must undergo extensive security screenings. While this has caused significant delays, it remains a key part of the country’s national security strategy.
Historically, the United States has revised its visa and immigration policies in response to major global security developments and changes in administration.