Payam Javan: The U.S. Department of State announced on Nov. 6 that more than 80,000 visas have been revoked under the Trump administration’s renewed focus on national security and public safety. According to the agency, the cancellations were linked to a range of concerns including terrorism support, criminal activity, and immigration violations. “President Donald Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio will always put the safety and interests of the American people first,” the department said in a post on X. Officials noted that thousands of revocations involved crimes such as assault, theft, and driving under the influence.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott reaffirmed the administration’s zero-tolerance stance, saying the U.S. “will not hesitate to revoke visas from foreigners who undermine our laws or threaten our national security.” The department has recently revoked visas for several foreign nationals who celebrated the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, emphasizing that “the United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.” The move follows a broader tightening of visa oversight aimed at preventing individuals who espouse anti-American or extremist views from entering or remaining in the country.

Data from the State Department show a significant drop in the number of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas issued in 2025 compared to the previous year. In May 2025, the U.S. approved roughly 898,000 nonimmigrant visas, a 16 percent decline from May 2024, while immigrant visa issuances fell by over 20 percent. The department also paused student visa interviews earlier this year to strengthen vetting, particularly by expanding social media screenings for applicants. Secretary Rubio underscored that “coming to the United States on a visa is a privilege, not a right,” citing the need to keep potential security threats off American campuses.