2LT International News

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration announced this week that it is conducting a sweeping review of more than 55 million people holding valid U.S. visas to determine whether any have violated the terms of their entry.

Officials said the move is part of a broader effort to tighten immigration enforcement and ensure only eligible foreigners remain in the country.

The State Department confirmed that all visa holders—ranging from tourists to students and temporary workers—are now subject to “continuous vetting.” This system allows U.S. authorities to monitor visa recipients even after approval, and to revoke visas if evidence emerges of criminal activity, overstays, threats to national security, or ties to terrorism. If the individual is already in the United States when a violation is found, they could face deportation.

The policy expands the administration’s focus on deporting those in the country illegally and tightening rules around student and exchange visitor visas. Analysts said the scale of the review highlights how far-reaching the vetting process has become, with some visa holders potentially abroad but still under scrutiny.

Julia Gelatt of the Migration Policy Institute noted that the review includes millions of multiple-entry tourist visa holders who may not even return to the United States. She questioned whether expending resources on such cases is the best use of government capacity.

The State Department outlined the criteria it considers in its review, including visa overstays, criminal records, threats to public safety, and links to terrorism. Officials said they pull from law enforcement and immigration records, as well as new information that arises after a visa has been granted.

The administration also abruptly halted work visas for foreign commercial truck drivers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the change was effective immediately, citing safety concerns and the impact on U.S. truckers.

The Transportation Department argued that incidents involving drivers with limited English skills had contributed to fatal crashes, and that stricter requirements would improve road safety. The State Department later confirmed it was pausing visa processing for truck drivers while reviewing its screening protocols.

Officials stressed that the measures are part of President Trump’s broader pledge to safeguard national security. The department said it has revoked twice as many visas overall—and nearly four times as many student visas—since Trump took office compared with the same period the previous year.