The US State Department will cancel more than 100,000 foreign visas in 2025, setting an all-time record and more than double the 40,000 visas canceled in 2024.
The numbers were released by the State Department following President Donald Trump’s first-day executive order regarding alien screening.
The revocation comes amid broader tightening of U.S. immigration controls, including stricter visa standards and expanded screening for foreign nationals who already hold valid visas.
what they said
According to the State Department, most of the canceled visas were for business and leisure travelers who overstayed their visas.
The ministry also confirmed that approximately 8,000 international students and 2,500 professional workers will lose their legal status in 2025. A department spokesperson said the majority of affected students and workers had experienced criminal contact with law enforcement.
Among professional personnel, half of the revocations were related to DUI arrests, 30% were based on assault, battery, or confinement charges, and the remaining 20% were revocations for theft, child abuse, drug abuse and distribution, fraud and embezzlement.
The ministry added that nearly 500 students had their visas revoked for drug possession and distribution, and hundreds of foreign workers had their visas revoked for suspected child abuse.
What this means for visa applicants
The record number of cancellations and expanded screening measures reflect a tightening of the U.S. immigration stance, particularly with respect to students, workers, and temporary visitors.
For prospective applicants and current visa holders, this development highlights the growing importance of complying with visa conditions, having a clean legal record, and meeting stricter eligibility standards as U.S. authorities increase enforcement and ongoing oversight.
What you need to know
The recent wave of visa cancellations is consistent with President Donald Trump’s broader immigration policies, which prioritize tighter controls and cuts to immigration.
President Trump has publicly vowed to permanently halt immigration from what he calls “Third World countries” and revoke admissions made under the Biden administration, arguing that the U.S. immigration system is under severe strain.
President Trump has repeatedly said that federal and state resources are under strain as the government spends more on housing, health care, education and welfare assistance to non-citizens due to the increased influx of immigrants. These costs will be passed on to taxpayers, he argues, reducing funds available to citizens and long-term residents.
He also pointed to immigrants’ access to public benefits as a major source of economic burden, and argued that U.S. immigration policy should favor individuals who are economically self-sufficient and able to contribute, rather than relying on government assistance.
Earlier this year, he shared a graph on his Truth Social platform titled Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin, which covers approximately 114 countries and territories, supporting the claim that immigration puts sustained pressure on public finances. In this list, 33.3% of Nigerian immigrant households receive some form of public assistance, such as food assistance or medical benefits.
