Chicago – August 22, 2025
The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it is reviewing the visa status of over 55 million people with valid U.S. visas to check for any violations that could lead to deportation. This review is part of a growing effort to ensure that foreigners in the United States are complying with their visa rules.
In a response to a question from The Associated Press, the U.S. State Department explained that all visa holders, including tourists from many countries, are now being “continuously vetted” for any signs they might not be eligible to stay in the U.S. If any violations are found, the person’s visa could be revoked. If the person is already in the U.S., they may be deported.
Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has focused on deporting people living in the U.S. illegally, as well as those on student and visitor exchange visas. The new approach suggests that this review process is now broader and could result in even legal visa holders losing their permission to stay in the country.
Last year, there were 12.8 million green-card holders and 3.6 million people on temporary visas in the U.S. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the 55 million visa holders being reviewed may also include people outside the country with multiple-entry tourist visas. Some experts, like Julia Gelatt from the Migration Policy Institute, questioned whether it is worth using resources to review people who may never return to the U.S.
The State Department said it is looking for signs of ineligibility, such as people staying beyond their visa’s authorized time, criminal activity, threats to public safety, or involvement in terrorism or supporting terrorist organizations.
