US STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTS MORE THAN 300,000 VISA REVOCATIONS

The US State Department said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s administration has revoked more than 300,000 visas since his second term began in January 2025. The department had reported more than 175,000 revocations by 10 August and as many as 250,000 in September. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration “has revoked more visas at a faster pace than any administration in history”. The department shared the latest figure on X.

Trump says his immigration measures and deportation drive aim to improve domestic security. Pigott said the administration had “zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law, commit fraud, or undermine our national security”. Rights advocates say the measures have violated due process and free speech rights. They also say ethnic minorities face an unsafe environment and have raised concerns about racial profiling.

Rights advocates have criticised visa revocations involving foreign protesters who demonstrated against Israel’s attacks on Gaza. They have also criticised revocations involving foreigners’ social media comments about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The administration has tightened social media screening for immigrants and visa applicants and has sought to deport foreign protesters. Advocates say officials have used national security arguments against critics and isolated fraud cases to target immigrant communities, including Somali Americans in Minnesota.