Trump Administration to Review 55 Million U.S. Visa Holders as Immigrant Population Declines

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The Trump administration announced it is reviewing the eligibility of all 55 million foreign nationals holding U.S. visas as part of an intensified vetting program, raising the stakes in its broader immigration crackdown.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed Thursday that visa holders are subject to “continuous vetting” and that any discovered indicators of criminal activity, terrorism support, or immigration violations could trigger revocation and deportation.

“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, indicating a potential ineligibility,” the department told the Associated Press.

Visa System Under Scrutiny

The administration has already revoked more than 6,000 student visas this year, citing crimes ranging from burglary to DUI, as well as support for terrorist organizations. Officials noted that more than 300 revocations were tied to fundraising for Hamas and other militant groups.

“Every single student visa revoked under the Trump Administration has happened because the individual has either broken the law or expressed support for terrorism while in the United States,” a senior State Department official told Fox News.

Immigrant Population Sees First Decline in 50 Years

The independent Pew Research Center reported Thursday that the total foreign-born population in the United States dropped by 2.2 million between January and July, marking the first recorded decline in more than half a century.

• 51.9 million immigrants remain in the U.S. as of June, down from 53.3 million at the start of the year.
•  The immigrant share of the workforce also fell from 20% in January to 19% in June.
•  DHS reported that 1.6 million illegal migrants voluntarily left the country since January.

The last comparable drop occurred during the Great Depression, when up to 1 million Mexicans and Mexican-Americans left the country.

Court Backs Trump on TPS Rollbacks

Separately, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handed the administration a major legal victory, allowing the Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 60,000 Hondurans, Nicaraguans, and Nepalis.

TPS, created in 1990, grants temporary deportation relief and work permits to migrants from countries facing war, disasters, or instability. Critics have long charged that the program became a “backdoor asylum system.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued conditions in those nations no longer warranted protections. “TPS was never meant to be a de facto asylum system,” she said. “This decision will help restore integrity to our immigration system.”

The ruling means:

• 7,000 Nepalis whose TPS expired August 5 are now subject to removal.
•  51,000 Hondurans and 3,000 Nicaraguans will lose protections after September 8.

Legal and Political Fallout

Immigrant rights groups vowed to continue challenging the TPS rollbacks. The National TPS Alliance argued the moves were motivated by racial bias and campaign promises, while federal judges remain split.

Earlier this summer, U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson blocked the administration’s order, accusing it of racism. The appeals court decision temporarily overrides her ruling, but the case is set for further hearings in November.

Meanwhile, the administration has already terminated TPS protections for more than a million migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Cameroon. However, several of those decisions are still tied up in the courts.

Broader Strategy

President Trump has repeatedly vowed to deport up to 21 million illegal aliens while simultaneously tightening restrictions on legal immigrants. The dual strategy — mass deportations alongside visa revocations — reflects what the administration calls an effort to protect U.S. jobs, combat terrorism, and reduce unlawful migration.

With immigrant numbers falling for the first time in decades, administration officials are touting the decline as proof that their approach is working. At the same time, opponents warn it risks destabilizing families, labor markets, and U.S. foreign relations.

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