The U.S. State Department confirmed Thursday that it is reviewing the records of more than 55 million foreigners who currently hold valid U.S. visas to determine whether they may be subject to revocation or deportation for violations of immigration rules.
In a written response to The Associated Press, the department said all visa holders are subject to “continuous vetting” to identify any potential grounds of ineligibility. Should such information arise, officials said the visa will be revoked, and if the individual is inside the United States, he or she would be subject to deportation.
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The review covers indicators such as visa overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engagement in terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization. “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance,” the department stated.
Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, his administration has prioritized the deportation of undocumented migrants and visa holders accused of overstays or other violations. Officials said the re-vetting process is more expansive than previously acknowledged and is likely to be time-consuming given its scale.
The State Department said that since Inauguration Day, it has revoked more than twice as many visas as during the same period last year, including nearly four times as many student visas. Earlier this week, it disclosed that over 6,000 student visas have been canceled for overstays and violations of federal, state, or local law, ranging from assault to driving under the influence on terrorism-related activity.
Of those cases, officials said approximately 4,000 involved infractions of U.S. law, while 200–300 revocations were linked to terrorism concerns, including support for designated terrorist groups or state sponsors of terrorism.
