Now Reading: US revokes 1.75 lakh visas in 2025, DUI now a trigger
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US revokes 1.75 lakh visas in 2025, DUI now a trigger
The US State Department has revoked more than 1.75 lakh visas in 2025, more than double the number cancelled in the last year of the Biden administration, under President Donald Trump's 'America…
The Story in Brief
The US State Department has revoked more than 1.75 lakh visas in 2025, more than double the number cancelled in the last year of the Biden administration, under President Donald Trump's 'America first' policy. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Fox News that criminal offences, including drunk-driving, are grounds for revocation. "Fundamentally, if you break the law, that is grounds for revocation," he said.
Pigott cited cases where foreign nationals lost visas after DUI incidents, including one who injured a person while driving drunk and another who appeared intoxicated at a court-ordered programme. He said visa screening is an extension of border security and that "every visa decision is a national security decision." Revocation does not automatically mean deportation; removal decisions are made case-by-case, and further proceedings may be required. The policy affects students, skilled workers and other temporary visa holders.
The Indian Opinion
The US is right to punish serious crimes, but the sweeping claim that DUI equals visa revocation overstates the policy. Revocation is not deportation, and Pigott himself said outcomes depend on prosecution and judicial process. The bigger worry for Indians is continuous vetting, which turns every traffic ticket into a possible immigration crisis. Watch the State Department's monthly revocation figures: if DUI cases stay a small share, the threat is more noise than substance. The real test is whether consular officers apply this fairly or target certain nationalities.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, ndtvprofit.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
