New Delhi. Since the Trump administration tightened immigration rules in the United States, 85,000 visas have been revoked to date. Posting on X, the U.S. State Department announced that 85,000 visas have been cancelled since January—a figure that underscores the Trump administration’s escalating crackdown on immigration enforcement and border security. Specifically, the State Department noted in its post that the 85,000 cancelled visas since January include over 8,000 held by students—a number more than double that of the previous year. This message highlighted the administration’s unwavering commitment to rigorous immigration oversight, signaling that President Trump and Secretary Rubio have no intention of easing up on these regulations.
Make America Safe Again
Accompanying the State Department’s post was an image of President Donald Trump bearing the slogan “Make America Safe Again.” This further reinforces the administration’s argument that strict visa regulations are essential for national security efforts.
A senior official revealed that more than 8,000 of the revoked visas belonged to students. Crimes such as driving under the influence, theft, and assault were cited as the primary grounds for cancellation—offenses that accounted for approximately half of all cancellations recorded last year.
Targeting Criminals and Terror Sympathizers
Additionally, some visas were revoked due to expiration, investigations linked to support for terrorism, and other serious grounds. In October, the administration also cancelled the visas of individuals accused of celebrating the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
While these categories constituted a significant portion of the cancellations, the official did not provide further details regarding the remaining visas revoked in 2025. During President Donald Trump’s second term, the State Department has expanded its criteria for reviewing visa applications and monitoring visa holders. The Trump administration has further tightened regulations following the terrorist attack that occurred near the White House.
**Impact of New US Social Media Rules on Indians**
It is worth noting that the Trump administration’s stringent social media screening regulations have caused significant disruption for H-1B visa applicants in India, as many appointments have been postponed to the coming year. In an advisory issued on Tuesday night, the US Embassy in India announced that several interviews originally scheduled for December and January have now been rescheduled for March 2026 or later. Applicants have been instructed to set all their social media profiles to “Public” status by December 15; failure to do so could result in the rejection of their visa application. Furthermore, applicants arriving at the embassy on their original appointment dates will be denied entry.
