The U.S. State Department has cancelled approximately 85,000 visas in the past year, including those issued to foreign nationals and international students.
Officials attribute the surge in revocations to concerns over public safety, though immigrant-rights advocates argue that the widened criteria may penalise individuals whose conduct poses no genuine threat.
A State Department official confirmed that more than 8,000 international students were affected, representing over double the number recorded the previous year.
While some revocations involved allegations of criminal behaviour, such as DUI, assault, or theft, officials said the spike was also driven by enhanced vetting protocols and a more assertive approach to perceived security risks.
“These are individuals we believe present a direct risk to community safety,” the official said, adding that consular officers have been instructed to adopt a broader interpretation of conduct deemed relevant to visa eligibility.
The intensified review now extends across multiple visa categories. In recent weeks, the administration has ordered consular posts to apply additional screening measures for H-1B visa applicants, a programme widely used by technology firms and specialised employers seeking talent from overseas.
Internal guidance reported by U.S. media indicates that consular officers have been advised to refuse visas to applicants suspected of involvement in activities that impede or suppress protected speech while in the United States, a directive immigration experts describe as unusually broad and difficult to assess.
