The Trump administration has intensified its visa revocation policy as a core national security measure, targeting foreign nationals who commit crimes, including drunk driving. Official figures reveal that more than 100,000 visas were revoked in 2025, more than double the number during the final year of the Biden administration.
Visa Revocations as a National Security Tool
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott emphasized the administration's stance: "Every visa decision is a national security decision." He added, "Of course, when we think of border security, we think about the Southwest border, but visa security is border security. It's who we're allowing into the country legally, and if they operate in a way that is grounds for revocation, we're going to protect the American people."
The policy focuses on removing individuals who violate U.S. laws, with drunk driving arrests being a significant trigger for revocation. Pigott noted that while many revocations were due to visa overstays, a substantial number were linked to criminal activity, particularly DUI offenses.
Record Number of Revocations in 2025
In January, the administration announced that over 100,000 visas had been revoked in 2025, a sharp increase from the previous year. This surge reflects the administration's aggressive enforcement of immigration laws. Pigott stated, "Fundamentally, if you break the law, that is grounds for revocation."
He cited examples of foreign nationals whose visas were revoked for DUI-related incidents, including one who injured someone while driving drunk and another who arrived intoxicated at a court-mandated DUI program. "Driving drunk on streets is incredibly dangerous," Pigott explained. "It's part of a broader initiative from the Trump administration to make sure that our streets are safe. And that includes illegal immigrant drivers, that includes foreigners here on visas that are driving drunk on our streets. We're not going to tolerate that. We are going to protect the Americans."
Oklahoma Tragedy Sparks Outrage
The policy gained renewed attention following a tragic incident in Oklahoma, where 27-year-old Michael Rosario-Cruz, a DACA recipient, was charged with four counts of second-degree murder. He allegedly drove drunk the wrong way and crashed into another vehicle, killing four young people aged 18 to 20. Authorities found empty beer bottles in his car.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin expressed outrage: "These young men and women had their whole lives ahead of them. This tragedy was completely preventable. This illegal alien should has never been in our country. Join me in praying for the families, friends, and loved ones of these victims." Rosario-Cruz is currently held at Canadian County jail, with ICE placing a detainer on him.
Visa Revocation Process Explained
Pigott clarified that revoking a visa is only the first step in removing a foreign national. Deportation depends on whether the Justice Department pursues criminal prosecution. "You could see someone leave the country after serving a prison sentence, for example," he said. "Ultimately, DHS then makes the termination about the next step of appropriate action, whether that's deportation, whether that is deportation after serving prison sentence, so it really is a case-by-case basis."
Continuous Vetting Policy
The administration's visa policy is built on ongoing vetting and enforcement. Pigott stressed, "We're going to do what's necessary to protect the American people, we're going to enforce our immigration law and we're gonna make clear when it comes to this visa process we are going to continuously vet people here on visas — we're going to have an America first visa policy."
