The TOI correspondent from Washington:

The Trump administration on Thursday announced a comprehensive review of all 55 million active US visas held across the world to identify potential violations that could lead to revocation and deportation of foreign nationals.

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In a significant escalation of immigration enforcement aimed purportedly at protecting US national security and public safety, the State Department said all US visa holders, including tourists, students, workers, and business travelers, are subject to “continuous vetting” to identify grounds for ineligibility, including visa overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, or links to terrorism.

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The review process includes examining social media accounts, law enforcement and immigration records from visa holders’ home countries, and any violations of US law.

Poll Do you support the comprehensive review of all active US visas to identify potential violations? Yes, it’s necessary for national security. No, it infringes on personal privacy.

New requirements introduced earlier this year mandate that privacy settings on electronic devices be disabled during visa interviews, facilitating data collection. The administration has also secured access to millions of immigrant tax records from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to check for violations.

Should violations be found, visas will be revoked, and individuals already in the US may face deportation.

Additionally, the State Department is considering a proposal for visa applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S., further tightening entry protocols.

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An estimated five million Indian citizens are believed to be holding active US nonimmigrant visas, including visas for tourism, business, and education, such as B1/B2 visitor visas, F-1 student visas, and H-1B work visas.

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At least a million of them are already in the US.

The review expands a vetting process that initially focused on students involved in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel activities on campuses, which the administration controversially labeled as promoting “anti-American” or “antisemitic ideologies.” Since January this year, when the Trump dispensation took office, the State Department has revoked over 6000 student visas, citing reasons such as overstays, assault, driving under the influence, and, in some 300 cases, alleged support for terrorism.

In a related move, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also announced an immediate pause on issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers following a horrific accident in Florida in which an Indian Sikh who entered the US illegally made a reckless U-turn resulting in three deaths. The driver, identified as Harjinder Singh, later flunked English fluency and road sign tests, answering only two out of 12 questions correctly in English and identifying only one out of four highway signs shown to him.

“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Rubio said. The Sikhs Political Action Committee (SikhsPAC) estimated in 2018 that around 150,000 Sikhs work in the US trucking industry, with 90% (approximately 135,000) being drivers.

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Donald Trump administration is once again imposing strict policies against immigrants. The U.S. Department of State said it will be vetting over 55 million foreign nationals holding valid U.S. visas. These visa holders are facing deportation should violations of state and federal law be found.

The news emerged just before an announcement on Thursday, August 21, 2025 by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He announced that the U.S. would soon cease issuing all work visas for commercial truck drivers. Rubio claimed that foreign truck drivers pose a danger to the lives of Americans and undermine the livelihood of American truck drivers.

In a written response to inquiries from The Associated Press and as quoted by Al Jazeera, the department stated that all U.S. visa holders are subject to “continuous vetting,” looking for indications they may not be eligible for a U.S. visa.

If they are found ineligible, their visas will be revoked. If the visa holders are in the U.S., they will be deported.

The department stated that they are searching for indicators of ineligibility, including visa overstays, criminal activities, threats to public safety, involvement in any form of “terrorist activity,” or providing support to “terrorist organizations.”

“We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance indicating a potential ineligibility,” the department said.

Since taking office as U.S. president in January, Donald Trump has directed a large-scale crackdown on immigration. Despite the administration saying it would focus only on dangerous criminals, thousands of people are being arrested every day. The New York Times estimates that the U.S. government will deport 400,000 people by 2025.

Authorities have been targeting migrant workers through unprecedented raids at restaurants, construction sites, and farms. They have also been arrested in courthouses, where immigration agents attend civil meetings to assist in legalizing their status.

The government is also working to rescind humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status, which have granted rights to hundreds of thousands of people from various countries facing dire conditions to live and work in the U.S.

Student visa holders also come under scrutiny. The U.S. Department of State announced earlier this week that 6,000 students had their visas revoked this year, despite saying these students have breached the law or expressed support for terrorism.

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The Trump administration has launched a sweeping review of all 55 million valid U.S. visa holders, targeting a wide range of temporary residents—students, workers, tourists—for potential deportation if they’re found to have violated immigration or criminal laws.

Under the new policy announced by the U.S. State Department, visa holders are now subject to “continuous vetting,” a system that monitors law enforcement databases, immigration records, and even social media. If any red flags emerge—such as overstays, unauthorized work, criminal charges, or links to terrorism—their visas will be revoked, and deportation proceedings may follow.

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Student visas (F-1 and J-1) are facing the harshest scrutiny. So far in 2025, nearly 6,000 have been revoked—about 4,000 for criminal offenses and 200–300 for terrorism-related concerns. The administration has linked some revocations to individuals participating in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel demonstrations, as well as to violations like overstaying or criminal misconduct.

Exchange visitors under the J-1 program are also heavily monitored. Overstays and any suspected breaches of U.S. law, including misdemeanors or public safety concerns, can trigger cancellation of their status.

Temporary work visa holders (H-1B, H-2B, etc.) are at significant risk as well. Infractions like unauthorized employment or overstaying terms are now grounds for visa revocation. Employers and workers alike are being warned that violations will not be overlooked.

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Tourist and business travelers holding B-1/B-2 visas, while not explicitly targeted, remain vulnerable. The policy particularly affects those with multiple-entry visas from non-Visa Waiver countries. Any instance of overstay or illegal activity during a visit can now result in immediate cancellation of their visa.

Other visa categories—including green card applicants and temporary humanitarian statuses—are not exempt. Any action deemed a threat to public safety or national security could lead to revocation.

This marks one of the most aggressive enforcement efforts against legal visa holders in recent U.S. history, reshaping how post-issuance visa compliance is monitored.

According to an Associated Press report, the Trump administration launched a sweeping review of over 55 million U.S. visa holders and applicants, escalating its crackdown on immigration.

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The U.S. State Department is subjecting all visa holders, including tourists, to “continuous vetting” to identify violations that could lead to visa revocation and deportation.

The vetting process targets indicators of ineligibility, such as overstaying visa durations, criminal activity, threats to public safety, or any involvement with terrorist organizations. Visa holders found in violation face immediate revocation and, if in the U.S.,

deportation to their home country.

In a related move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause on all work visas for foreign commercial truck drivers, citing concerns over public safety and the economic impact on American truckers. The decision follows a tragic Florida crash involving Harjinder Singh, an Indian-origin truck driver named as the prime suspect in an accident that killed three people.

Rubio, in a post on X, stated, “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”

The administration’s immigration measures also include heightened scrutiny of social media accounts for “anti-American” activities or promotion of anti-Semitic ideologies. ICE spokesperson Matthew Tragesser underscored this policy, stating, “America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies.”

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The intensified vetting and visa pauses reflect President Donald Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which prioritizes stringent enforcement and national security. Since President Donald Trump assumed office, his administration has prioritized deporting undocumented migrants and scrutinizing holders of student and visitor exchange visas. The State Department’s updated policy indicates that its ongoing, time-intensive vetting process is far broader than previously understood, potentially leading to sudden visa revocations for those already approved to be in the U.S.

US Visa: The Trump administration has begun an unprecedented review of the records of more than 55 million foreign nationals who currently hold valid US visas. The move, confirmed by the State Department and first reported by the Associated Press, represents one of the most sweeping expansions of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda.

Officials said that all visa holders are now subject to “continuous vetting” to ensure that they remain eligible. Should evidence emerge of a rule violation or other disqualifying factor, the visa could be revoked. Those already inside the United States would then be subject to deportation.

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A State Department spokesperson explained, “The State Department revokes visas any time there are indications of a potential ineligibility, which includes things like overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organisation.”

Social media scrutiny and “anti-American” views

The review comes alongside the administration’s decision to expand the criteria for immigration vetting, including checks for “anti-American” sentiments on social media. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will broaden its screening procedures to examine the online activity of applicants seeking to live or work in the United States.

Matthew Tragesser, a USCIS spokesperson, said, “America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies. Immigration benefits – including to live and work in the United States – remain a privilege, not a right.”

Officials confirmed that the focus will be on detecting any online behaviour suggesting hostility to the United States, antisemitism, or support for terrorism.

Antisemitism and student visa revocations

Since January, the Trump administration has linked immigration eligibility to positions on US foreign policy, particularly attitudes towards Israel. The latest guidance instructs officials to examine whether applicants promote antisemitic ideologies or engage in activism considered contrary to US policy.

Students and academics have been among those affected. Authorities accused several universities and student groups of antisemitism and supporting terrorism for participation in protests against Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Activists have rejected the charges, saying they amount to suppression of political dissent.

In April, the administration revoked or altered the legal status of hundreds of international students, before reinstating many weeks later following legal and diplomatic pressure. Student visa interviews were also halted temporarily in May, and new vetting requirements were introduced in June, compelling applicants to unlock their social media profiles for review.

Thousands of student visas already revoked

On Monday, the State Department revealed that 6,000 student visas had already been revoked since Marco Rubio took office as Secretary of State in January. Of these, approximately 4,000 were withdrawn due to violations of state or federal law, including assault, driving under the influence, burglary, and alleged support for terrorism.

Officials argue that the measures are necessary to safeguard national security and protect public safety. Critics, however, warn that the expansive powers risk criminalising ordinary behaviour and could deter international students, researchers, and skilled professionals from choosing the United States.

The “continuous vetting” system means that visa holders may now be monitored throughout the duration of their stay, a shift from previous practice where checks were largely limited to the initial application process. Immigration lawyers have cautioned that the lack of transparency in determining what constitutes “anti-American” activity could create confusion and abuse.

With more than 55 million foreign nationals under review, the administration’s move aims to tighten immigration enforcement in both legal and cultural terms.