❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has announced plans to review the status of all 55 million foreign nationals in the U.S. holding valid visas, initiating a “continuous vetting” process aimed at identifying security threats and individuals supporting terrorism.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Trump administration.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.” – Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
🎯IMPACT: The new policy will include a “continuous vetting” process for all 55 million foreign nationals who hold valid visas in the United States.
The Trump administration says it will soon implement a “continuous vetting” process for all foreign nationals in the U.S. holding valid visas. The policy, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to identify legal immigrants who pose security risks or are involved in activities such as supporting terrorism.
“Things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization” will serve as cause for visa revocation under the new policy, according to the State Department. The agency added: “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance.”
The State Department highlighted that since the beginning of Trump’s second term, it has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, compared to the same period last year. The administration has also targeted visa applicants for potential ties to anti-American or terrorist groups, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) monitoring foreign nationals participating in campus protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Secretary Rubio has also announced additional measures, including a halt on worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers, citing concerns over road safety and the impact on American truckers. “Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers,” Rubio wrote on X, adding that the move was necessary to protect American lives and livelihoods.
This follows the killing of three people by an illegal immigrant truck driver in Florida.
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