The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday that it has revoked more than 80,000 visas – a mix of tourist, student and work visas – in what officials describe as a sweeping enforcement of immigration rules under former President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda. The move, framed as “promises made, promises kept,” is part of a broader crackdown that began when Trump returned to office, with a focus on national security and public safety.
Roughly half of the revocations stem from three crimes – assault, theft and driving under the influence. Data from 2024 show 16,000 visas were cancelled for DUI, 12,000 for assault and 8,000 for theft
A smaller but significant number were tied to terrorism, extremist activity or other public‑safety threats.
The administration has broadened its screening to include thorough checks of applicants’ social‑media histories and affiliations. In August, more than 6,000 student visas were revoked for legal violations and overstays, with a handful linked to terrorism‑related concerns Six individuals lost their visas over social‑media posts about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned in May that hundreds – possibly thousands – of visas have been revoked for actions deemed contrary to U.S. foreign‑policy priorities, including expressions of support for Palestinians or criticism of Israel amid the Gaza conflict ¹ ². The State Department has instructed diplomats to scrutinize applicants for anti‑American sentiment or political activism that could threaten U.S. interests.
The Nigerian government has not issued an official response yet, but diplomatic observers suggest Abuja may seek talks with Washington to protect law‑abiding citizens who could be caught in the sweep. The revocations represent one of the most extensive enforcement actions by the U.S. State Department in recent years, underscoring the administration’s aggressive stance on immigration and national security.
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