Washington, Dec 9 (LatestNewsX) — A senior State Department official told reporters that the U.S. has cancelled 85,000 visas this year across a range of categories, calling the move part of “an intensified effort to protect American communities and enforce public‑safety standards.”
“I’ve heard the numbers on the phone, and we’ve revoked 85,000 visas in all categories, including more than 8,000 students, which is more than double last year’s total,” the official said in reply to a question.
“We dropped the visas for people whose offenses included DUIs, assaults, and thefts, which together make up almost half of the revocations over the past 12 months. Those individuals pose a clear threat to our communities, so we won’t allow them to stay in the country,” the spokesperson, who wished to remain unnamed, added.
The senior staff member explained that the administration keeps a tough stance on visa screening, especially for applicants coming from high‑risk areas. On Afghanistan, they noted: “I think this admin has always been wary of safety concerns in Afghanistan after the withdrawal, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure applicants won’t be a threat.”
“None of the checks are rushed,” the official emphasized. “We’ll take the necessary time and only issue a visa once we’re confident the applicant won’t jeopardize Americans’ security.”
When pressed about whether work for fact‑checking or content‑moderation groups—including roles with social‑media or civil‑society organizations—might lead to visa denial under the Trump‑era policies, the senior officer replied, “Freedom of speech is a core American value, and the Trump administration is protecting Americans from foreign forces that would censor them.”
They added that the evaluation isn’t based on a single factor.
“When we decide on a visa, consular officers look at the whole picture of an applicant, not a single item, and then make a case‑by‑case call,” the official summarized.
The heightened vetting comes amid the U.S. fine‑tuning its immigration procedures after the 2021 military exit from Afghanistan, when many sought resettlement through U.S. programs. Officials have underlined that all Afghan applicants must pass multi‑layered security checks—a process that can be slow but is key to national security.
Historically, the United States has altered visa and immigration rules in response to global security changes, whether after major events or shifts in administration. While criminal‑related visa revocations are not unusual, the scale of this year’s 85,000 cancellations signals Washington’s continued focus on public safety and homeland‑security risk assessment across every visa category.
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