All 55M Foreign Visa Holders Will Now Be Scrutinized

The Trump administration is rolling out a sweeping plan to re-examine all 55 million active US visa holders, broadening its crackdown on both illegal and legal immigration, the Washington Post reports. According to a State Department statement, the new "continuous vetting" process will allow officials to revoke visas if new information suggests ineligibility—such as signs of overstaying visas, criminal activity, or links to terrorism. The Associated Press first reported on the State Department's ongoing review, which covers a wide range of visa categories, including tourism, business, and student visas.

In the 2024 fiscal year, nearly 11 million temporary visas were issued, primarily for business and tourism. Officials admit that reviewing so many existing visa holders—some of whom have held visas for years—will be logistically challenging and time-consuming. The vetting now includes monitoring social media accounts for anti-US sentiment or antisemitism, a move that will further slow the process, a senior State Department official acknowledged.

Some immigration experts warn the approach may lead to discriminatory targeting of certain groups or individuals based on speech rather than conduct. Noted David J. Bier of the libertarian Cato Institute, "I suspect that these reviews will be done in a discriminatory manner targeting immigrants with certain backgrounds and in certain visa categories or specific people they want an excuse to revoke." If individuals are found to be ineligible for permission to remain in the US, their visa will be revoked and they could be deported.

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The administration has already revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays or legal violations, including 200 to 300 for alleged links to terrorism. It has also targeted student protesters linked to the Gaza war, although officials declined to specify how many visas were pulled due to protest activity. Overall, the administration says it has revoked over twice as many visas compared to the same period last year, with student visa revocations quadrupling.