Strict Visa Policies Under the New Administration
- US President Donald Trump has acted more aggressively to control immigration since he took office for the second term. The administration tightened up the rules not only for illegal immigrants but also for holders of non-immigrant visas. Reports in recent times say over 80,000 non-immigrant visas have been cancelled since January.
- The majority of the revoked visas reportedly belong to individuals involved in cases of violence, theft and drunk driving. The White House confirmed the figures following a report by a U.S. news agency.
Visa Cancellations Have Increased
- Since January, the Trump administration has initiated programs aimed at identifying and deporting illegal immigrants. It also increased vetting on social media and background screening for visa applicants. Cancellations of visas have distinctly multiplied for those persons who have been violating U.S. laws.
- According to local media, the cancellations of visas have been doubled compared with previous years. Of the canceled visas, about 16,000 were drunk driving-related, 12,000 accounted for assault cases, and 8,000 were related to theft. These three categories made up almost half of this year's visa cancellations.
- The Washington Examiner reports the total number of visas revoked since January now tops 80,000, including 8,000 student visas. White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt confirmed the numbers in a social media post.
Impact on Student Visas
In August, the spokesperson for the State Department reported that over 6,000 student visas had been revoked for overstaying or violation of local laws. Some of them had links to activities related to terrorism. Six other persons had their visas revoked for improper comments on social media.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier stated that visas would be revoked for individuals or students involved in illegal actions against US foreign policy. He said that hundreds or thousands could be the total number of cancellations, which has just been reflected in the recent data release.
Limits on Political Expression The U.S. State Department has ordered diplomats abroad to closely monitor visa applicants who may be security risks. Reports say students and green card holders who express support for Palestinians or criticize Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip could be deported. In this context, according to international media reports, U.S. authorities regarded such statements as reflecting Hamas ideology, which included elements threatening U.S. foreign policy interests and national security.
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