The days of opening the floodgates are gone. It’s time to get serious.
And Trump admin revoked thousands of visas in a bold move out of left field.
State Department Revokes Over 80,000 Visas in 2025, More Than Double Previous Year
The U.S. State Department announced Thursday that it has revoked visas for more than 80,000 foreign nationals this year, citing reasons ranging from drunk-driving convictions to terrorism-related activity. The figure marks an increase of more than 100 percent over the total for 2024.
“Promises Made, Promises Kept,” Agency Says
“Promises made, promises kept. [President Donald Trump] and [Secretary of State Marco Rubio] will always put the safety and interests of the American people first,” the State Department posted on X.
Principal deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott told the Washington Examiner that the administration “will not hesitate to revoke visas from foreigners who undermine our laws or threaten our national security.”
“Our message is clear: Entry to America is a privilege, not a right, and we will always put the safety and interests of the American people first,” Pigott added.
Breakdown Includes DUI, Assault, Theft, and Terror Links
Among the revocations, approximately 16,000 stemmed from driving-under-the-influence violations, 12,000 from assault convictions, and 8,000 from theft. Additional cases involved visa overstays, support for terrorism, or classification as an “actual terrorist.”
In September, the department canceled visas held by nationals of Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Paraguay who posted celebratory comments following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
One revoked Argentine visa holder had written that Kirk “devoted his entire life spreading racist, xenophobic, misogynistic rhetoric” and deserved to burn in hell.
“The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans. The State Department continues to identify visa holders who celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk,” a department official said at the time.
The accelerated revocation campaign began in May when President Trump directed Secretary Rubio to target Chinese students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or enrolled in sensitive academic fields.
The department also intensified screening of all new visa applications from China and Hong Kong.
The Washington Examiner first reported the 2025 totals.
