The department of US boasted of the crackdown in a posting to X that announced the high volume of revocations of Visas and said: "President Trump and Secretary Rubio have one simple mandate, and they aren't going to stop now."(Image Source: X.com/ANI)
The US State Department announced a huge surge in immigration enforcement on Tuesday, revealing that 85,000 visas have been revoked since January.
That number is more than double the cancellations from the previous year and shows that the Trump administration is rapidly moving to tighten national security screening and immigration controls.
The department boasted of the crackdown in a posting to X that announced the high volume of revocations and said: "President Trump and Secretary Rubio have one simple mandate, and they aren't going to stop now."
The message included a photograph with a caption reading, "Make America Safe Again," and demonstrated clearly that the visa actions are at the very heart of the administration's emphasis on security.
The spike in cancellations is tied to the administration's expanded policy of "continuous vetting" for all 55 million foreign nationals who hold valid US visas. In other words, visas can now be pulled at any moment if new, negative information about the holder surfaces.
A senior State Department official said close to half of all revocations over the past year were for serious criminal offenses including driving under the influence (DUIs), assaults, and theft.
The official said such actions were needed to eliminate individuals presenting a direct threat to community safety. In addition to crime, more than 8,000 student visas were revoked.
Other reasons for revocation include visa overstays, suspected support for terrorism, and a recent crackdown on foreign nationals accused of harboring "hostile attitudes" toward US institutions.
The ramped-up visa actions come in a broader push to restrict entry from some countries. The administration has already barred travel from 19 countries.
In the wake of a shooting in Washington, D.C. recently, for which an Afghan national was charged, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem now proposes adding enough to bring that total to a number between 30 and 32 countries. These steps together represent an aggressive new ramp-up in US policy on visa issuance, tracking, and travel.
Also Read: Trump Announces U.S. Will Allow Nvidia AI Chip Shipments to China—For a Price
The holders of the H-1B visa have their legal permission to work in the US in these specialized fields: IT, engineering, finance, and healthcare.
They can also apply for a Green Card since the H-1B allows "dual intent." Their spouses and children can stay in the US on H-4 visas, and H-4 spouses under certain conditions can work. Workers are protected by US labor laws, and the portability rule allows switching employers.
Anyone who has been offered a job with a company in the US for a specialty occupation that requires at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field is eligible to apply. The candidate shall have education and skills related to that profession.
There is no country restriction for any nation, but all foreign nationals from any country can apply if they meet the requirements. However, most H-1B visas usually go to professionals in India and China.
Common alternatives of this word include:
L-1 visa for the transfer of employees within multinational companies, O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability Permanent Residency EB Visas EB-1, EB-2 NIW F-1 OPT/STEM OPT for students seeking temporary work experience after graduation.
