The Donald Trump administration has begun work to continuously check all 55 million foreigners holding valid U.S. visas for any reasons for visa cancellation or deportation. Not only new visa applicants but also existing legal visa holders have been subjected to 'microscopic scrutiny.'
The U.S. Department of State stated in a written response to an AP inquiry on the 21st (local time) that 'all U.S. visa holders are subject to continuous vetting to determine if they have any reasons for visa ineligibility.' If any disqualifying information is found during the vetting process, the visa will be immediately canceled. If the individual is currently residing in the U.S., deportation proceedings will be initiated.
The Department of State explained that this measure is an effort to protect national security and public safety. Key inspection items include ▲ exceeding the permitted duration of stay ▲ involvement in criminal activities ▲ threats to public safety ▲ involvement in any form of terrorism ▲ support for terrorist organizations. The Department of State noted, 'The vetting process reviews law enforcement and immigration records as well as any potential disqualifying information that may arise after the visa issuance.'
This policy suggests that the Trump administration's immigration policy has been significantly strengthened, according to AP. Previously, illegal immigrants or some student visa holders were the main targets of enforcement. However, with this measure, all foreigners holding U.S. visas, regardless of purpose such as tourism, studying, or employment, are effectively placed under constant surveillance.
The re-verification process will be extensive and thorough. Authorities plan to examine the visa holders' own social media accounts, homeland law enforcement and immigration records, and any legal violations within the U.S. Originally, this re-evaluation procedure primarily targeted students involved in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel activities, but now the scope has been greatly expanded to include all 55 million individuals.
Since the Trump administration took office, the number of visa cancellations has already surged. According to the Department of State, the number of canceled visas since President Trump took office is more than double that of the previous administration during the same period. In particular, the number of canceled student visas has nearly quadrupled. Since President Trump took office, more than 6,000 student visas have been canceled due to exceeding the duration of stay or legal violations. Of these, about 4,000 cases involved actual legal violations such as assault and drunk driving, and 200 to 300 cases were related to terrorism.