The U.S. government is conducting a review of records for over 55 million visa holders to determine if they have violated the terms of their entry or stay in the country. A spokesperson from the State Department indicated that these visa holders will undergo “continuous vetting” as part of this process. If evidence emerges of overstaying, involvement in criminal activities, threats to public safety, or support for terrorist organizations, officials may revoke their visas.
This assessment includes social media monitoring for prospective students and visitors, specifically looking for signs of hostility towards U.S. citizens, culture, or government. Additionally, State Department officers have been tasked with identifying individuals who may support foreign terrorist organizations or engage in antisemitic harassment or violence. Matthew Tragesser, a spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, remarked that benefits should not be granted to those who advocate against American values.
These developments follow remarks from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced an immediate pause on the issuance of worker visas for truck drivers, citing safety concerns related to foreign truck drivers operating in the U.S. Rubio expressed that the presence of foreign drivers poses risks to American lives and impacts local truckers’ livelihoods.
The review comes amid significant immigration changes under the current administration. Recent incidents include the arrest of foreign students protesting U.S. support for Israel during the Gaza conflict. Furthermore, new visa restrictions have been implemented for citizens from Malawi and Zambia, requiring a $15,000 deposit for tourist or business visas. Additional measures include bans on travelers from 12 countries and limited restrictions on seven others. In May, the administration received authorization to temporarily revoke legal status for over 500,000 migrants living in the U.S. Issues concerning birthright citizenship have also been raised.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg04gm92d3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss