The Trump administration has revoked more than 300,000 US visas since January 2025, the State Department said on 20 October, as it expands immigration enforcement and security screening.
The figure represents a substantial increase from the more than 175,000 cancellations reported by the department on 10 August, although neither announcement provided an exact total.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration had cancelled more visas at a faster rate than any previous US government, according to Reuters.
The government had "zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law, commit fraud, or undermine our national security," Pigott said in a post on X.
President Donald Trump has defended his administration's immigration measures as necessary to protect national security and enforce US law.
Civil liberties and immigration advocates, however, have criticised the government's approach, alleging violations of due process and freedom of expression, as well as discriminatory treatment of certain immigrant communities.
The latest announcement follows a series of measures affecting foreign students, workers and other visa holders, including increased scrutiny of their activities and social media accounts.
Among the most contested cases are visa cancellations involving foreign nationals who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations against Israel's war in Gaza.
Rights advocates have challenged efforts to revoke visas and deport protesters, arguing that political expression should not be used as grounds to punish foreign nationals.
The administration has also targeted foreign visa holders over social media comments concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The measures have prompted wider debate over the boundaries between immigration enforcement, national security powers and constitutional protections.
In its August announcement, the State Department said most of the cancellations followed encounters with law enforcement.
It identified assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offences among the leading reasons for revocation.
The department also cited visa violations, immigration fraud and activities it considered threats to national security.
Officials have maintained that the measures are intended to prevent individuals who violate US laws or abuse the immigration system from retaining permission to travel to the country.
Immigration and civil rights advocates dispute the breadth of the enforcement campaign, particularly where government action involves political statements rather than criminal convictions.
They have also expressed concerns about racial profiling and the treatment of immigrant communities, including Somali Americans in Minnesota.
Alongside the visa cancellations, the administration has tightened screening procedures for applicants and imposed additional restrictions affecting legal immigration.
These include more extensive reviews of social media activity and higher fees for certain employment-based visa applications.
The distinction between cancelling a visa and removing someone from the United States is important.
Visa revocation can prevent a foreign national from using that document for future entry, but its consequences for someone already inside the country depend on their immigration circumstances and the legal basis for the decision.
The State Department's published figures do not establish how many visa holders have been deported as a result of the cancellations.
Nor has the department provided a complete public breakdown of the latest revocations by nationality, immigration category or individual reason.
The new total covers visa cancellations since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, with the government continuing to review foreign nationals under its expanded immigration enforcement policies.
