The United State State Department has revoked about 85,000 visas over the past year, affecting Nigerians, other foreign nationals, and thousands of international students.
Officials say the spike in cancellations is tied to heightened public-safety concerns, though immigrant-rights groups warn that the broadened criteria may unfairly punish people who pose no real threat.
A State Department official confirmed that more than 8,000 international students were affected—more than twice the number recorded the previous year.
While some revocations were linked to alleged offences such as DUI, assault, or theft, authorities noted that the surge also stems from stricter vetting procedures and a tougher stance on perceived security risks.
“These are individuals we believe present a direct risk to community safety,” the official said, adding that consular officers have been instructed to apply a wider definition of conduct that could affect visa eligibility.
The intensified scrutiny now cuts across several visa categories. In recent weeks, the administration directed consular posts to introduce additional screening for H-1B applicants, a visa route heavily used by technology companies and specialised employers hiring talent from abroad.
Internal guidelines reported by U.S. media also show that officers have been told to deny visas to applicants suspected of engaging in activities that could hinder or suppress protected speech in the U.S.—a directive immigration analysts describe as unusually broad and difficult to measure.
