The Trump administration announced Thursday that it is conducting a sweeping review of more than 55 million valid U.S. visa holders, searching for potential violations that could trigger deportation as part of its escalating crackdown on foreign nationals.
Responding in writing to a question from The Associated Press, the State Department said all U.S. visa holders — including tourists from a wide range of countries — undergo "continuous vetting" to detect any signs they may no longer qualify to enter or remain in the United States.
If such information comes to light, the visa will be revoked, and those already in the United States could face deportation.
Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has prioritized deporting both undocumented migrants and holders of student and visitor exchange visas. The State Department’s updated language signals that the time-intensive vetting process is far more expansive than previously known — raising the possibility that even those legally approved to stay in the U.S. could suddenly have their status revoked.
President Donald Trump speaks at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Homeland Security data show that, as of last year, 12.8 million lawful permanent residents and 3.6 million temporary visa holders were living in the United States.
The 55 million figure likely includes individuals currently outside the U.S. holding multiple-entry tourist visas, according to Julia Gelatt, associate director of the Migration Policy Institute’s U.S. immigration policy program. She questioned the wisdom of devoting resources to people who may never return.
The State Department said it is scanning for signs of ineligibility — from overstaying the period authorized by a visa to involvement in crime, threats to public safety, or any ties to terrorist activity or 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.
No more worker visas for commercial truck drivers
The U.S. will also halt the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday on X, saying the measure takes effect immediately
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives for a joint press conference with President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
“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,” Rubio posted.
In recent months, the Trump administration has stepped up enforcement of English proficiency requirements for truck drivers. The Transportation Department said the move aims to enhance road safety, following incidents where drivers’ inability to read signs or speak English may have played a role in traffic fatalities.
Later Thursday, the State Department announced it was pausing the processing of these work visas to review its "screening and vetting protocols."
“Ensuring that every driver on our roads meets the highest standards is important to protecting the livelihoods of American truckers and maintaining a secure, resilient supply chain,” the department said.
Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted that foreign workers have played a key role in addressing the shortage of commercial truck drivers.
“This action should be seen as part of a concerted effort by the administration to discourage American companies and other institutions like universities and hospitals from hiring and retaining foreign workers,” Alden wrote in an email.
“The goal here is not to target specific classes of workers, but to send the message to American employers that they are at risk if they are employing foreign workers. The economic consequences will be far larger than just visas being stripped from foreign workers in a few job categories.”
New review of all visa holders is a major expansion
The administration has gradually tightened restrictions on visa applicants, including mandating in-person interviews. The new review of all visa holders represents a major expansion of a process that had previously focused primarily on students involved in activities the government considers pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel.
Officials say the review will examine all visa holders’ social media accounts, law enforcement and immigration records from their home countries, and any violations of U.S. law committed while in the United States.
The reviews will employ new data-collection tools for past, current, and prospective visa applicants, including a comprehensive sweep of social media enabled by requirements introduced earlier this year. These rules mandate that privacy settings on phones and other electronic devices be disabled during visa interviews.
“As part of the Trump Administration’s commitment to protect U.S. national security and public safety, since Inauguration Day the State Department has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, as during the same time period last year,” the State Department said.
Most foreigners seeking to enter the U.S. must obtain visas, particularly those aiming to study or work for extended periods. Exceptions exist for short-term tourist or business visits, including citizens of the 40 primarily European and Asian nations in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows stays of up to three months without a visa.
However, vast regions of the world—including heavily populated nations such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and much of Africa—are excluded from the program, requiring their citizens to apply for and obtain visas to enter the United States.
Earlier this week, the department reported that since Trump returned to the White House, it has revoked over 6,000 student visas due to overstays and violations of local, state, and federal laws—most commonly for assault, driving under the influence, and support for terrorism.
Of the 6,000 revoked student visas, about 4,000 were due to actual legal infractions, while roughly 200 to 300 were canceled for terrorism-related reasons, including support for designated terrorist groups or state sponsors of terrorism.
