In an unprecedented enforcement action, the U.S. State Department invalidated over 100,000 foreign visas throughout 2025—a figure that more than doubles the 40,000 revocations recorded during the final year of the Biden administration and establishes a new historical record. This aggressive policy shift implements President Donald Trump’s day-one executive order mandating rigorous foreign national vetting, signaling a substantial hardening of U.S. immigration enforcement.
The majority of revoked visas belonged to business and tourist travelers who had overstayed their authorized periods. However, the crackdown extended significantly beyond typical visa violations, affecting approximately 8,000 international students and 2,500 specialized workers. According to State Department officials, the vast majority of these individuals had encountered law enforcement, resulting in criminal charges that triggered their loss of legal status.
Detailed breakdowns reveal that among specialized workers, half of the revocations stemmed from drunken driving arrests, while 30% involved assault, battery, or confinement charges. The remaining 20% were linked to offenses including theft, child abuse, substance-related crimes, fraud, and embezzlement. Particularly alarming were the nearly 500 students who lost visas due to drug possession and distribution violations, alongside hundreds of workers removed over child abuse concerns.
This enforcement surge forms part of a broader administration initiative announced in August 2025 to review all 55 million currently valid U.S. visas. Under Secretary Marco Rubio’s leadership, the State Department has implemented markedly stricter visa standards, including the November 2025 reinstatement of the “public charge” rule. This provision allows denial of visas to applicants considered likely to depend on public benefits, with evaluations based on health factors (placing older and overweight applicants under heightened scrutiny), English proficiency, financial stability, and potential long-term care needs.
State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Piggott emphasized the administration’s commitment to maintaining this aggressive posture through a newly established “continuous vetting center,” stating: “The Trump administration will continue to put America first and protect our nation from foreign nationals who pose a risk to public safety or national security.”