55 million visa holders under review for possible deportation

The Trump administration is expanding its immigration crackdown by reviewing more than 55 million valid U.S. visa holders for potential violations that could lead to deportation.

What’s being reviewed: The State Department said Aug. 21 that it is conducting “continuous vetting” to identify visa holders with overstays, criminal conduct, public safety threats, terrorism connections or support for terrorist organizations. Days prior, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued guidance instructing officers to screen those applying to work or live in the country for “anti-American ideologies or activities,” though it did not specify what “anti-American” is.

The ongoing review includes social media monitoring, criminal background checks and immigration records, with new requirements forcing applicants to turn off privacy settings on devices during visa interviews. Since Trump took office, the State Department has revoked more than twice as many visas as the same period last year, including nearly four times as many student visas.

Why this matters: The review disproportionately impacts Asian populations, who make up approximately 13 million immigrants and represent the largest share of temporary visa holders in the country. The latter group includes workers and students, making them particularly vulnerable to the expanded vetting process. Chinese nationals alone represent roughly 25% of all international students.

Most Asian immigrants reside in California (29%), New York (10%), Texas (9%), New Jersey (5%) and Washington state (4%). These states also host the majority of major universities and tech companies that rely heavily on international talent, potentially amplifying the economic impact of revocations on both educational institutions and employers.

Broader concerns: The millions under review include people both inside and outside the U.S., with those outside having no recourse to challenge revocations. Immigration experts warn the process may unfairly target specific groups or be misled by inaccurate data. This systematic approach also represents a significant departure from traditional case-by-case visa enforcement, suggesting a chilling effect on international travel and study in the country.

The Trump administration also suspended new commercial driver visas Thursday after a fatal Florida crash involving an undocumented Indian national.