Overview
- State Department data shows a roughly 150% jump from 2024’s 40,000 cancellations, setting a one‑year high.
- About 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized‑worker visas were pulled after law‑enforcement encounters, with overstays, DUI, assault and theft cited most often.
- Most cancellations involved business and tourist visitors who overstayed their permitted stays, according to officials.
- Expanded screening includes social‑media checks and continuous monitoring, with previously announced reviews of tens of millions of current visa holders.
- Visa actions have extended to politically sensitive cases, including pro‑Palestinian student protesters and people who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s killing, while reported H‑1B changes such as a $100,000 fee and “Project Firewall” investigations signal broader policy shifts.