US revokes over 100,000 visas so far amid Trump crackdown; deportations to continue

The US State Department has revoked more than 100,000 visas this year, including about 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialised work permits, in what officials describe as a broad crackdown targeting foreign nationals with criminal records or legal violations.

The department said it will continue deportation efforts to “keep America safe,” according to a post on its official X account Monday.



The announcement comes amid a wider tightening of US immigration and visa enforcement under the Trump administration. It also comes after an expansion of vetting policies that now monitor visa holders after entry to identify arrests, convictions or other concerns.

The revocations span multiple visa categories, affecting tourists, students, skilled workers and foreign visitors as well.

Indians, among the largest groups of US visa holders, are directly affected by the policy shift. The U.S. Embassy in India reported issuing more than one million non-immigrant visas to Indians for the second consecutive year, underlining ongoing demand for travel, work and study in America.

The spike in visa revocations comes amid a backdrop of wider visa policy changes that have affected Indian nationals, who make up one of the largest groups of foreign visitors to the United States. In recent years, India had overtaken China as the largest source of international students in the US, with hundreds of thousands of Indians enrolled in American universities.

However, visa issuance for Indian students has declined sharply in 2025, driven by stricter screening, lengthy interview delays and tougher adjudication standards, according to government migration data.

Indian professionals on employment visas such as the H-1B have also faced uncertainty. The Trump administration introduced a proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, a move that could significantly raise costs for employers seeking to hire skilled foreign workers, a provision now facing legal challenges in US courts.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has acknowledged rising concerns over visa issues affecting students and workers in the US, saying it is monitoring the situation and engaging with Indian nationals affected by cancellations. A recent Indian government statement noted that New Delhi has formally raised visa concerns with Washington, signalling diplomatic engagement on the matter.