U.S. State Department revokes over 100,000 visas in nearly a year

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department announced Monday that it has revoked over 100,000 visas since U.S. President Donald Trump took office nearly a year ago.

The revoked visas include "some 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized visas for individuals who had encounters with U.S. law enforcement for criminal activity," the department said on X.

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

The majority of the revocations were for business and tourist travelers who overstayed their visas, according to the report.

Around 8,000 of the revoked visas were for students, as the administration has ramped up scrutiny of student visas in recent months.

Earlier in 2025, the U.S. government had imposed some social media screening requirements, which were largely aimed at returning students who may have participated in protests against Israel's actions in Gaza.

In late May, the department ordered U.S. embassies and consular sections worldwide to pause scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants. In June, the department directed its diplomatic missions to screen the social media and online presence of all foreigners applying for student visas.

Expanded immigration enforcement goes beyond student visas. In August, the State Department said that it is reviewing the records of over 55 million U.S. visa holders for any deportable violations, part of its escalating crackdown on immigration.