WASHINGTON, Aug 22: The Trump administration is reviewing more than 55 million valid U.S. visa holders for possible violations that could result in deportation, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
The State Department told the AP in a written response that all visa holders, including tourists, are under “continuous vetting” to determine if they are ineligible to remain in the United States. If violations are found, visas may be revoked, and holders already in the country could face removal.
According to the AP, the move expands earlier efforts focused mainly on students and exchange visitors. It signals a broader crackdown in which even legally approved foreigners could lose permission to stay. The Department of Homeland Security recorded 12.8 million green-card holders and 3.6 million people in the U.S. on temporary visas last year.
In a related step, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that the U.S. will stop issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers. He said the change takes effect immediately, arguing that foreign truckers “endanger American lives and undercut the livelihoods of American truckers,” AP quoted Rubio as saying.
The State Department later said it had paused processing such visas to reassess “screening and vetting protocols,” adding that ensuring only qualified drivers operate on U.S. roads is key to safety and protecting jobs. The Transportation Department has also enforced English-language requirements for truckers after traffic deaths linked to drivers’ inability to read road signs, AP said.
Edward Alden, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told AP that foreign truckers help ease labour shortages. He said the move is part of a wider push to discourage companies and institutions from hiring foreign workers, warning that the economic fallout could reach far beyond trucking.
According to the AP, the expanded visa review includes checking social media activity, law enforcement and immigration records, and other personal data.