Overview
- The State Department says it has canceled 85,000 visas since January, including more than 8,000 for students, more than double last year’s total.
- An official said DUIs, assaults and theft account for almost half of revocations, with other cases tied to ineligibilities such as overstays or terrorism-related concerns.
- Officials are moving to continuous vetting of more than 55 million current visa holders, reviewing new information that emerges after visas are issued.
- Enhanced screening now includes social‑media checks and closer scrutiny of work such as content moderation and fact‑checking, following a diplomatic cable and a Rubio policy targeting foreigners who “censor” Americans.
- Civil-liberties groups and universities note First Amendment concerns after some student visas were pulled in protest-related cases, while DHS continues aggressive enforcement and refugee resettlement remains effectively paused.