Athira Sethu
Kochi, 22 August 2025
The Trump administration has initiated a sweeping review of over 55 million individuals who possess valid US visas. Officials claim this is to check if there are no violations of any rules. If any violations are detected, the visas can be revoked, and the individuals within the country can be deported. The State Department authenticated that all visa holders are subject to “continuous vetting,” which means their activities are under surveillance even after receiving the visa.
Since President Donald Trump came back to office, immigration regulations have tightened. Previously, the emphasis was primarily on illegal immigrants. Now, foreign students, professionals, and exchange visitors are also targeted by the checks. The process includes scrutinizing all visa categories, including tourist visas, and entails checking criminal history, immigration records, and even social media posts.
The Department of Homeland Security indicates that the US today has approximately 12.8 million holders of green cards and 3.6 million temporary visa holders. Most of the 55 million being considered are multiple-entry tourist visa holders who could be outside the US today.
According to the State Department, officials are looking for cases such as visa overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, or support for terrorism. It added that new information, even after a visa has been issued, could make someone ineligible to stay.
Ban on Truck Driver Visas
In addition to the visa review, the US suspended issuing new worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the policy took effect at once. He claimed that there were too many foreign drivers on US roads, posing safety hazards, and diminishing job opportunities for native truckers.
The Transportation Department further stated that foreign drivers already are required to demonstrate English language proficiency for safety purposes, but the delay will permit time to enhance screening regulations. The officials explained that the intention is to shield both road safety and the employment of American drivers.
But analysts caution the move may aggravate the current shortage of truck drivers in America. Others say the administration’s broader objective is to dissuade US businesses, colleges, and hospitals from depending too much on overseas workers.
More Stringent Visa Rules
Authorities also confirmed that visa screening has increased relative to previous years. What used to apply principally to politically engaged students now applies to all holders of a visa. Visa interviews now involve equipment and social networking checks.
The State Department reports more than 6,000 student visas already revoked for overstays or violations, some of which involve terrorism. Because most nations, including India and China, are not Visa Waiver countries, citizens of those nations must have visas to come to the US and fall under this tight screening process.
