US visa revocations and immigration enforcement under Trump’s second term

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
1h ago
The US State Department said it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office, as the administration continues a hardline immigration crackdown.
US visa revocations and immigration enforcement under Trump’s second term
A What happened
The US State Department said it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office last year. The State Department said the visa purge includes 8,000 students and 2,500 specialised workers, and said most revocations were tied to encounters with US law enforcement for criminal activity, with charges not clearly established. The administration claimed more than 2.5 million voluntary departures and deportations and said some deportations included immigrants with valid visas, raising questions about due process and human rights. Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot dead in her car in Minneapolis during a period of heightened immigration enforcement in Minnesota, sparking protests across the country.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Visa revocations were linked to law enforcement encounters and specific offence categories: The State Department said most revocations involved encounters with US law enforcement for criminal activity, and Tommy Pigott listed overstays, driving under the influence, assault and theft as the leading causes.

  • 2

    Expanded screening and continuous vetting were presented as part of restricting entry and presence: The State Department cited tightened social media vetting, expanded screening, and a Continuous Vetting Center intended to revoke visas of people seen as threats.

  • 3

    Visa actions tied to political expression prompted free-speech concerns: Visa removals connected to pro-Palestinian student activism and online posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination were cited as raising concern about First Amendment violations.

Takeaways

The State Department reported a sharp rise in visa revocations and expanded vetting under Trump’s second term, while enforcement actions and visa removals tied to speech and activism drew scrutiny and protests.

Topics

World & Politics Policy & Regulation Human Rights Migration

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