As Rubio Courts India On Trade, Trump’s US Revokes Over 3 Lakh Visas
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Donald Trump administration has revoked more than 300,000 US visas since the President began his second term in January 2025, the US State Department said on Tuesday, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India for discussions on energy trade and increased purchases of American technology.
The latest figure marks a sharp acceleration in visa revocations in recent weeks. In an August 10 update, the State Department said it had revoked more than 175,000 visas since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
The announcement comes as Washington continues its sweeping immigration crackdown, which the administration says is aimed at strengthening domestic security. Rights advocates, however, have raised concerns over due process, freedom of speech and the risk of racial profiling, particularly against ethnic minorities.
US Says Visa Revocations Have Accelerated
Announcing the latest figure on X, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Trump administration had revoked more visas at a faster pace than any previous administration.
Pigott said the government had “zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law, commit fraud, or undermine our national security”.
The latest tally reflects the administration's continued focus on visa holders accused of violating US laws, committing fraud or posing national security concerns.
Pro-Palestinian Protesters, Social Media Comments Under Scrutiny
Among the visa revocations criticised by rights advocates are those involving foreign nationals who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations against Israel's attacks on Gaza, as well as people whose social media comments addressed the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
The administration has also pursued deportation proceedings against foreign protesters and tightened social media screening for immigrants and visa applicants.
Rights groups have accused the government of invoking national security concerns to target critics. They have also expressed concern that individual cases of alleged fraud are being used to justify broader scrutiny of immigrant communities, including Somali Americans in Minnesota.
The administration maintains that its immigration measures are intended to protect national security and enforce US law.
Rubio Says India And US Have ‘Extraordinary Alignment’
The visa announcement coincided with Rubio's visit to India, where discussions included energy trade and increasing India's purchases of American technology.
On Tuesday, Rubio said India and the US had an “extraordinary alignment” on core issues, despite disagreements on some matters.
His remarks highlighted the continuing engagement between the two countries even as the Trump administration pursues stricter immigration policies at home.
Trump’s Crackdown Extends Beyond Illegal Immigration
Trump campaigned in 2024 on a pledge to curb illegal immigration and has made deportations and border enforcement central to his second-term agenda.
However, the administration has also introduced measures that make legal immigration more difficult, including expensive fees for certain work visas.
The revocation of more than 300,000 visas adds to the wider immigration crackdown, which has drawn criticism from rights advocates over its impact on foreign nationals, protesters and immigrant communities.
While the administration argues that the measures are necessary to improve domestic security, critics contend that some actions risk undermining civil liberties and due process protections.
