The United States State Department says it has revoked more than 100,000 visas, including thousands issued to international students and specialised professionals, since President Donald Trump returned to office last year.

In a statement posted on X on Monday, the department said it had cancelled over 100,000 visas, including about 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialised visas belonging to individuals who had encounters with US law enforcement over criminal activity.

Officials said the move is part of broader efforts to strengthen public safety and enforce immigration laws. “We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the department said.

The scale of the revocations reflects the wide-ranging immigration crackdown initiated by Trump following his return to the White House. The administration has claimed responsibility for more than 2.5 million voluntary departures and deportations, describing the figure as a “record-breaking achievement” in a statement released last month.

However, some of the deportations have reportedly involved immigrants who held valid visas, raising concerns about due process and human rights.

The administration has also tightened visa approval processes, introducing stricter screening measures, including expanded social media vetting.

State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the leading reasons for visa revocations were overstays, driving under the influence, assault, and theft. He added that the number of revocations represents a 150 percent increase compared to 2024.

Pigott also announced the launch of a Continuous Vetting Center, designed to ensure that “all foreign nationals on American soil comply with our laws” and that visas belonging to individuals deemed a threat to public safety are swiftly revoked.

The centre forms part of a broader effort to restrict entry into the United States. US diplomats have been instructed to closely scrutinise visa applicants considered hostile to the country or those with a history of political activism.

In November, the State Department said it had revoked about 80,000 non-immigrant visas since Trump’s inauguration, citing offences ranging from driving under the influence to assault and theft.