The Trump administration announced a comprehensive review of over 55 million individuals holding valid US visas, intensifying its efforts to enforce immigration regulations and remove those deemed in violation of visa conditions.
This initiative, highlighted by the State Department, marks a significant expansion in the government’s approach to monitoring visa holders, which encompasses not only tourists but also students and professionals.
The review process involves continuous vetting of all US visa holders to detect any signs of ineligibility that may warrant visa revocation or deportation.
In a written response to inquiries from The Associated Press, officials at the State Department detailed how all visa holders are now subject to consistent scrutiny, aimed at identifying potential breaches of visa conditions, such as overstaying authorized timeframes, engaging in criminal activities, or any links to terrorist organizations.
If any violations are identified, the respective visas could be revoked, consequently subjecting those individuals to deportation.
The administration’s focus under President Donald Trump has centered not only on undocumented migrants but has also increasingly targeted holders of student and visitor exchange visas.
The new vetting procedures suggest a more rigorous monitoring process may lead to abrupt visa revocations for individuals who had previously been granted entry to the US.
According to data from the Department of Homeland Security, there were approximately 12.8 million green-card holders and about 3.6 million individuals on temporary visas within the country as of last year.
The figure of 55 million implies that many individuals currently undergoing review may be outside of the United States, particularly those holding multiple-entry tourist visas. Julia Gelatt, associate director at the Migration Policy Institute, expressed skepticism about the utility of investigating individuals who might not return to the US.
State Department officials emphasized their commitment to reviewing all available information during vetting processes, including any law enforcement or immigration records that surface post-visa issuance and indicate a potential ineligibility.
In a related announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the US will cease issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers, effective immediately.
This policy change, Rubio stated, stems from concerns regarding the increasing number of foreign drivers operating large trucks on American roads, which is perceived to pose safety risks and undermine the livelihood of domestic truckers.
The administration has also previously imposed requirements mandating that truck drivers demonstrate proficiency in English to improve road safety.
The Transportation Department reaffirmed that these new measures and the pause on processing work visas for truck drivers aim to enhance safety standards for all drivers on US roads.
Experts like Edward Alden from the Council on Foreign Relations noted that while foreign workers have helped to address the labor shortage within the trucking industry, this latest action reflects a broader initiative by the administration to deter employers from hiring foreign workers.
Alden characterized this approach as a strategic communication to American companies, suggesting that they face risks if they depend on foreign labor, predicting significant economic repercussions beyond just the revocation of certain visas.
The expanded review of all visa holders represents a considerable growth from prior actions, which had principally targeted visa holders previously identified as being involved in activities perceived by the government as pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel.
The new vetting protocols will encompass a review of social media accounts, law enforcement records, immigration data from visa holders’ countries of origin, and any US law infractions committed by these individuals while residing in the country.
Due to new requirements implemented earlier in the year, visa applicants must now disable privacy settings on their electronic devices during interviews, facilitating a thorough examination of their online presence.
The State Department reported that since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the administration has revoked more than twice the number of visas, including nearly quadrupling the revocation rate for student visas compared to the same period the previous year.
Data released earlier this week indicated that over 6,000 student visas have been rescinded due to issues involving overstays and violations of local, state, and federal laws, predominantly assaults, DUI offenses, and connections to terrorism.
Of these revocations, approximately 4,000 were attributed to actual offenses, while 200 to 300 were linked to terrorism-related matters, such as providing support for designated terrorist entities or state sponsors of terrorism.
While citizens from 40 countries, mainly in Europe and Asia, are part of the Visa Waiver Program and can visit the US without applying for a visa for up to three months, many nations, particularly populous ones like China, India, and Russia, remain outside the program, necessitating visa applications for travel to the US.
This significant escalation in the inspection and vetting of visa holders indicates the administration’s ongoing commitment to bolstering national security and public safety, extending its influence over immigration policy in ways that could reshape the landscape of foreign participation in the US.
image source from：timesofisrael
