U.S. Government Examining Multiple Visas for Alleged Immigration Law Violations Under Trump Regime

In the past few years, the administration of President Donald Trump has implemented a series of changes to the U.S. visa system, with a focus on increased screening and deportation of individuals who are deemed ineligible to stay in the country.

Since Trump took office, the administration has prioritised the deportation of migrants living illegally in the United States, as well as holders of student and visitor exchange visas. This has led to a significant expansion of visa revocation proceedings, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcing ongoing reviews for visa holders, particularly German nationals.

These reviews focus on detecting violations that occur after visa issuance, such as excessive stay duration, criminal records, threats to public safety, and involvement with terrorist activities or support for terrorist organizations. Such criteria can trigger visa revocation proceedings.

The administration has also imposed more restrictions and requirements on visa applicants, including the implementation of in-person interviews and the requirement for applicants to turn off privacy switches on their cellphones and other electronic devices or apps during visa interviews.

Last year, there were 12.8 million green-card holders and 3.6 million people in the U.S. on temporary visas, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In an effort to address a labor shortage of commercial truck drivers, foreign workers have helped fill this gap. However, the U.S. has recently stopped issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers, effective immediately, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The State Department has also revoked more visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, since President Trump returned to the White House. Approximately 4,000 of the revoked student visas were due to actual infractions of laws, and approximately 200 to 300 visas were revoked for terrorism-related issues.

All U.S. visa holders, including tourists from many countries, are subject to "continuous vetting" with an eye toward any indication they could be ineligible for permission to enter or stay in the United States. New tools for data collection on past, present, and future visa applicants are being implemented, including a complete scouring of social media sites.

If information indicating ineligibility is found, the visa will be revoked, and if the visa holder is in the United States, they would be subject to deportation. The Trump administration is reviewing more than 55 million people who have valid U.S. visas for any violations that could lead to deportation. The reviews will include all visa holders' social media accounts, law enforcement and immigration records in their home countries, and any actionable violations of U.S. law committed while they were in the United States.

Large swaths of the world, including highly populated countries like China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and most of Africa, are not part of the Visa Waiver Program, meaning their citizens must apply for and receive visas to travel to the United States. These changes have sparked controversy and debate, with critics arguing that they may negatively impact the U.S.'s relationships with other countries and its reputation as a welcoming destination for immigrants and visitors.