U.S. revokes 80,000 visas of Nigerians, other foreigners

The United States Department of State has withdrawn the visas of over 80,000 foreign nationals — including thousands of Nigerians — as part of an extensive immigration enforcement effort launched under former President Donald Trump’s administration.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the department said the action reflects Trump’s pledge to prioritize national security and safeguard American interests, describing the initiative as “promises made, promises kept.”

According to the department, the visa cancellations stemmed from various offenses such as assault, theft, and driving under the influence (DUI). Data from 2024 indicated that 16,000 visas were revoked for DUI-related cases, 12,000 for assault, and 8,000 for theft. Other reasons included terrorism links, extremist activities, public safety concerns, and violations of visa conditions.

A senior State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the three major offenses—assault, theft, and DUI—made up nearly half of all revocations recorded this year.

The policy forms part of a wider immigration clampdown initiated during Trump’s tenure, which also brought tighter visa screening, expanded deportations, and deeper scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity and affiliations.

“Promises made, promises kept 👏 @POTUS and @SecRubio will always put the safety and interests of the American people first,”— Department of State (@StateDept), November 6, 2025.

Back in August, the department revealed that more than 6,000 student visas had been withdrawn over legal breaches and overstays, with a few linked to terrorism-related offenses. It also confirmed that at least six visas were canceled due to social media comments regarding the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

In May, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that hundreds—possibly thousands—of visas had been rescinded for activities considered inconsistent with U.S. foreign policy goals. He added that diplomats worldwide had been instructed to carefully vet applicants for potential anti-American leanings or political activism that could pose risks to national interests.

Officials also warned that visa and green card holders could face deportation for expressing support for Palestinians or criticizing Israel amid the Gaza conflict, suggesting that such positions could be interpreted as sympathy for Hamas.

The large-scale visa withdrawals mark one of the most extensive enforcement operations by the State Department in recent years, underscoring the administration’s tough stance on immigration and national security.