US Revokes 8,000 Student Visas, 2,500 Work Permits In 1 Year

The United States government has revoked over 100,000 visas within the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, including about 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialised work permits.

The US State Department disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account on Monday, describing the action as part of a wider crackdown on foreign nationals involved in criminal activities or legal violations.

“The Trump administration has no higher priority than protecting American citizens and upholding American sovereignty,” State Department spokesman, Tommy Pigott, said. “We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe.”

Pigott added that thousands of the revoked visas were linked to offences such as assault and drunk driving, noting that the move aligned with an intensified campaign of mass deportations backed by increased deployment of federal agents.

The administration has also tightened visa vetting procedures, including enhanced screening of applicants’ social media accounts.

President Trump was inaugurated for a second term on January 20, 2025, after campaigning on a platform centred on stricter immigration controls. Data from the Department of Homeland Security indicate that over 605,000 people have been deported under the administration’s second-term measures, while about 2.5 million remain in the country under various legal statuses.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, recently defended the revocation of visas issued to students who protested against Israel, citing US laws that allow denial of entry to foreigners considered to be acting against American foreign policy.